z 




y 



\y 



3 

: 

A 




of Real 



Life. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

UNITED StjJfE»^OF AMERICA. 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING: 



A TRUE AND THRILLING NARRATIVE 



OF ONE WHO WAS 



^txntk bg l^igljtning; 



II(CIDEHTS, EXPERIENCES, A^D /I(ECDOTES, 



FOR OLD AND YOUNG. 



Rev. EPENETUS OWEN, 

Author of "Things New and Old," 



Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here 
we are ? — Job xxxviii : 35. 



X 






ON SALE BY THE AUTHOR, 

Cortland, Cortland Co., N. Y. 



ry'-v/ 







Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by 

Epenetus Owen, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



J. W. PRATT, PRINTER, 
75 FULTON STREET, N. Y. 



ELEOTROTTPED BY 

CRUM & RINGLER, 

NEW YORK. 



CONTENTS. 



Plan for Evading the Judgment 7 

Eequest to be Whipped to Death 11 

Learning to Swear 18 

Alarmed by a Rattlesnake 22 

Fall from a Building 25 

Struck by Lightning 29 

Converted 37 

Sanctified 47 

Called to Preach— First Effort 55 

Casting out a Devil 59 

Protracted Meeting on *' Satan's Premises " 70 

First Circuit — Revival in '' Haying " 75 

S. Hill Revival— Sisters' Quarrel Settled 79 

Accused of Fortune-Telling — Souls Saved 86 

Dreams 91 

Too near Hell to spend time with 99 

A Skeptic Awakened 102 

Public Talk with a Universalist 105 

A Chair Thrown at the Minister — Revival in Berlin 112 

A Methodist Church of Baptist Converts 115 

A Noisy Stage-Passenger Quieted 118 



Preaching on the Deck of a Steamboat 122 

A Pleasure Trip — Two Overboard 124 

Revival by Torch-Light 129 

A Fiddler Saved 133 

A Slanderer Humbled 135 

Bar-Room Discussion 137 

Saved by Expulsion from the Church 143 

Dancing with the Devil 146 

Answering a Fool according to his Folly 148 

Raps for Spirit Rappings 151 

Short Debate with a Restorationist 165 

'' Open Rebuke" 173 

An Unspeakable Blessing 179 

Conclusion 191 



NOTE 



This hook is no fiction. This is 
stated because fictitious literature has 
become so prevalent^ as often to ren- 
der it difficult to determine whether 
one is perusing truth or falsehood. 

Author. 



Struck by Lightning. 



PLAN FOR EVADING THE JUDGMENT. 



The subject of this narrative was 
born in New Milford^ Pennsylvania, 
March 17th^ 1815. His early training 
was not strictly religious^ yet his 
mother gave him pious instruction. 
His first conceptions of a general judg- 
ment were peculiar. During a con- 
versation^ — partially comprehended — 
between his mother and a neighbor^ 
he received the impression that those 
only who were living upon earth at 
Christ's second coming, would be 



8 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

judged ! He sincerely desired to die^ 
and thus as he supposed^ escape the 
terrible event. Soon after^ the fol- 
lowing conversation occurred between 
him and his mother : 

Boy, — When will that judgment 
come that you talked about ? 

Motlier, — I know not. 

B, — Do you think it will come 
while I live ? 

J/. — I cannot say, my son ; our 
Lord taught that it would be at a 
time when we think not^ and com- 
manded us to Avatch and be ready. 

The boy retired to the barn, over- 
Avhelmed with thoughts of a coming 
judgment. To die was now the only 
w^ay by Avhich he could hope to shun 
it. For security, he sincerely desired 
to die soon, and was tempted to kill 
himself But a voice within whis- 
pered : ''If you die you may live 



PLAN FOR EVADING THE JUDGMENT. 9 

again, and be judged for the dreadful 
deed you contemplate/' 

Hastening to the house^ he inquired 
of his mother, T^'hat would become of 
those who died previous to the coming 
of Christ? 

She assured him they would all be 
raised from the dead, and be judged 
according to their works. 

His trouble now increased. Such 
was his distress of mind, that his plays 
were abandoned, and he lost his relish 
for food. 

While in this frame of mind, meet- 
ing a wicked neighbor — who used bad 
language in his presence^ he said : 
'' Mr. H- there is a judgment day com- 
ino' and we must all give an account 
to God for our deeds/' " Who told 
you that ?'' asked the astonished man. 
^^ My mother,'' was the reply, '' and it 
is true^ for the Bible says so/' Mr. 



10 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



H. dropped his head and walked off 
as if the reproof had touched his 
heart. 



I 



REQUEST TO BE WHIPPED TO DEATH. 11 



REQUEST TO BE WHIPPED TO DEATH. 



This boy was now full of resolves 
— which were often expressed to his 
mother — to so live as to meet the Di- 
vine approval in the great day of ac- 
counts. Each day Avas commenced 
with a purpose to live just right, but 
when at night the past was reviewed, 
while others slept, there were sighs 
and tears for failures. 

One night he had such a view of 
his conduct through the day, as made 
him fear to sleep, lest he should awake 
in eternity. Calling his mother to his 
room, he said, " I am so wicked I 
cannot sleep. '^ " What have you 
done ?' asked his mother. " Why/' 
said he, '' I have done almost every- 



12 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

thing wrong ; I did not mind you^ and 
was naughty to the children. What 
shall I do ? I am afraid I shall be 
lost/^ His mother advised him to 
pray^ assuring him that if he was 
really sorry for his faults^ and resolved 
to forsake them^ the Lord would for- 
give him. He prayed^ and seemed re- 
lieved. Still his eyes refused to slum- 
ber. The remembrance of his former 
broken resolves^ made him fear to see 
a new day^ lest it be marked with vio- 
lated vows. Still restless, he again 
called to his mother, and said^ ^' If I 
am not a better hoy tomorrow you may 
whip me to deaths These promises 
were remembered for a time^ and 
great care taken to shun those par- 
ticular sins, which had given him so 
much trouble. Still other sins broke 
out like leprous spots, and tormented 
him day and night. 



REQUEST TO BE WHIPPED TO DEATH. 13 

One day his attention was attracted 
by a conversation between his mother 
and a Methodist class-leader, upon the 
age at which children become ac- 
countable. 

The leader expressed a doubt 
whether they were accountable as 
early as some supposed. Pointing to 
this boy who stood near^ he said^ " I 
think if that child should die now^ he 
would go to heaven.^' 

'' This/^ said the boy afterwards^ 
" put my heart all in a flutter, I 
thought if this were true — but I 
doubted it — I had better go out of 
the world as soon as possible, as there 
was so little hope of reformation." 

He grew worse and worse, amid de- 
sires and strong resolutions to be 
better. This is the case with all who 
attempt to mend their lives without 
seekmg a new heart In vain do we 



i^ STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

try to pluck good fruit from a bad 
tree^ or draw pure water from an im- 
pure fountain. 

Right here is where multitudes fa- 
tally blunder^ when awakened to see 
their sinfulness before God. They com- 
mence immediately to make fruitless 
efforts to mend their own lives^ with- 
out seeking Divine help. As well try 
to regulate an old disordered clock by 
simply adjusting the hands. The inside 
work must be set right or the hands 
cannot be trusted. They may be forced 
into place^ but will not remain there. 
So of all attempts to lead a new life^ 
without first seeking a new heart. The 
inside work is wrong. The natural 
heart is deceitful above all things and 
desperately wicked. '' The carnal (un- 
regenerate) mind is enmity against 
God; for it is not subject to the law 
of God^ neither, indeed, can be. So 



REQUEST TO BE WHIPPED TO DEATH. 15 

that they that are in the flesh [unre- 
generate] cannot please God/' " Doth 
a fountam/' mquires St. James, " send 
forth at the same place sweet water 
and bitter ? Can the fig tree, my breth- 
ren, bear olive berries ? either a vine 
figs? So can no fountain both yield 
salt water and fresh.'' 

But if the natural heart be so dis- 
eased by sin, and man has no power 
to change it, what is to be done ? 
What would you do with such a clock 
as I have just described ? Of course, 
if worth saving, and you lacked skill, 
you would put it into the hands of one 
who knew how to mend it. Act as 
consistently with your disordered heart 
and the work is done. Hand it over 
to Jesus, who understands the whole 
case. He asks you for it. He knows 
you can do nothing with it yourself, 
hence He says: " Give me thy hearth 



16 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

" Behold I stand at the door^ and 
knock : if an?/ man hear my voice^ and 
open the door, I will come in to him 
and sup with him^ and he with me/^ 

Had this boy listened to the earhest 
calls of the Spirit, it would have saved 
him much trouble and hazard. But 
he understood not this plain and only 
way of salvation. He often listened 
to the conversation of Christians hop- 
ing to learn how to become a Chris- 
tian himself. At times he retired for 
secret prayer, but not obtaining im- 
mediate relief, like too many others, 
he became discouraged and ceased. 
The minister and others, who often con- 
versed freely upon the subject of re- 
ligion Avith older persons in his pres- 
ence, would pass him by unnoticed, 
or merely put their hands on his head 
and say, ''You must be a good boy.'' 
Thus are children too often treated. 



requp:st to be whipped to death. 17 

while adults are conversed with specif- 
ically as to liow they may be saved. 



18 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



LEABNING TO SWEAR, 



Swearing was quite common in the 
neighborhood where he hved. So 
shocking did this practice appear in 
the eyes of this boy^ that he often re- 
proved his play-fellows for the indul- 
gence^ and yet — strange to tell — he 
soon became a swearer himself. Do 
you ask how he learned to swear? 
He did not commence by horrid 
oaths^ but by using idle words ; such 
as ^' darn it!'' ^^ plague on it!'' ^^by 
gracious!" etc., thus coming nearer 
and nearer to downright profanity, un- 
til his heart became hardened; the 
oaths of others became less shocking, 
and he began himself to take the 



LEARNING TO SWEAR. 19 

name of God in vain. Reader^ do you 
use idle words ? Beware! You know 
not where such indulgence may lead 
you. A small block may hold a large 
log at the top of a hill while at rest^ 
or only just beginning to move^ but 
if allowed to roll a. few yards a thou- 
sand such blocks must fail to resist its 
force. So it may be comparatively 
easy to pause where you are^ while a 
step more may render your case hope- 
less. Pause at once ! If you have not 
commenced^ avoid the first utterance 
of the kind. The swearer appears 
mean in the eyes of all. He can hard- 
ly respect himself. His practice is a 
gross sin which admits of no shadow 
of apology. Men may hope to gain 
by other vices (though in this they 
must at last see their mistake), but 
who can even hope to gain by profan- 
ity? It has been well said: ''The 



20 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

swearer allows himself to be caught 
by the devirs bare hook/^ 

His first profane language was used 
under perplexity in getting cows 
from pasture. One of the animals 
kept him running some time to get her 
through the bars^ and at this he swore. 

He was alone, but his own lano;uao;e 
frightened him ; he had never intend- 
ed to go so far ; no one could have 
made him believe^ an hour before this, 
that he would ever have become thus 
guilty. Though at some distance from 
any house^ it seemed to him that the 
whole neighborhood must have heard 
him. 

Hastening home^ he voluntarily con- 
fessed to his mother what he had done, 
and promised never to repeat it. Poor 
fellow ! He had started in this down- 
ward road and could not tell what he 
would do. Similar trials came and he 



LEARNING TO SWEAR. 21 

soon used similar language. Not be- 
ing so much shocked as at first, he 
kept it to himself. Still he resolved 
never to become a profane swearer. 

But by swearing occasionally the 
dreadful habit w^as soon formed. This 
he now strove to conceal from his pa- 
rents, and when detected, instead of 
confessing the wrong as formerly, he 
would apologize for the practice. 



22 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



ALARMED BY A RATTLESNAKE. 



Sabbath breakino; was another of 

CD 

his habits^ which^ hke swearing, was 
contracted bj degrees. One Sabbath, 
when picking raspberries in company 
with other children, he was suddenly 
alarmed by the appearance of a large 
rattlesnake that lay under the bush 
where he stood. He cried out with 
fear, ran a suitable distance from the 
spot, and called a neighbor, who 
killed the snake. He was heard to 
thank God for this narrow escape, 
and to promise to mend his ways. 
But this pledge, like others, was soon 
forgotten. He soon learned that it 
required more than a rattlesnake to 
produce genuine reformation in his 



ALARMED BY A RATTLESNAKE. 23 

heart and life, though this^ among 
other things, was doubtless intended 
to lead him to Christ, the only source 
of help. 

Though his heart seemed hourly 
hardening amid Divine influence, he 
still had serious hours, and often re- 
solved on reformation. He occasion- 
ally seemed serious when in church, 
and sometimes prayed in secret, but 
soon found himself sinning as before. 
One Sabbath while in a prayer meet- 
ing, he was so convicted, that he got 
down on his knees and silently called 
on God for help. This was observed 
by his schoolmates, who laughed 
about it the next day, until lie got 
angry and swore. This was just what 
they desired. " You are a fine speci- 
men of a Christian,^' said one of them 
— '' don^t you want to kneel in church 
agahi next Sunday and pray ?" This 



24 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

SO mortified him that he afterwards 
studiously guarded against all appear- 
ance of seriousness. 

Religious restraints being thrown 
oflf^ he plunged deeper into sin than 
ever. 

His growing wickedness grieved his 
mother^ who often reminded him of 
his promises to be good^ and expressed 
her fears that if he did not reform^ 
Divine judgment would fall upon him. 
Facts soon proved that her fears were 
not groundless. 



II 



FALL FROM A BUILDING. 25 



FALL FROM A BUILDING. 



One Sabbath day^ having chmbed a 
new buildmg^ for some childish sports^ 
he fell to the ground — a distance of 
about thirty feet. He was taken up 
and carried to the house, his garments 
dripping with blood from a severe 
gash in his head. The wound was at 
first thought to be mortal. He was 
otherwise much bruised, so as to be 
unable to walk for weeks. 

This was but one of a succession of 
similar accidents. So frequent were 
these, that his parents often spoke of 
him as their " unfortunate sonj' Amid 
all these troubles his heart seemed to 
harden. When quite young he left 
home to attend school. Away from 



26 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

the eye of his mother^ he now ven- 
tured still deeper into sin. Dancings 
and other sinful amusements became 
his chief delight. He had noAV im- 
bibed '' Universalist ^^ views, which 
helped him on in the path of death. 

Still, whenever he visited the house 
of God he felt reproved, and often re- 
solved to abandon the practice of 
swearing, and reform in other re- 
spects. 

Once he became so ashamed of the 
sin of profanity, that he agreed with 
a profane associate that whenever one 
heard the other swear, he should strike 
him as hard as he could, until the foul 
practice was broken up. They both 
received many a hard blow, but were 
not cured. Finding the habit so 
deeply rooted, that it could not be 
pounded out, they finally abandoned 
the effort. 



FALL FROM A BUILDING. 27 

After attending a meeting one Sab- 
bath evening, where the minister dwelt 
upon the awful sin of profanity, he 
went home with a fixed purpose to 
quit the practice forever. Reaching 
home he found a company of trifling 
young people. Observing a little seri- 
ousness upon his countenance, one 
said, " I guess that chap has been to 
a Methodist meeting ; see how sober 
he looks.'' Others made similar re- 
marks, and to prevent the conclusion 
that he was really serious, he joined 
them in merriment, swearing more 
profanely than usual. 

So much for resolves in one's own 
strength against long-cherished shis. 
It is vain to try to purify the stream 
without first cleansing the fountain. 

He soon became so much afraid of 
serious impressions as to almost en- 
tirely abandon the house of God, 



28 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



spending his Sabbaths in wandering 
about the fields and woods with 
wicked associates. Thus^ step by step^ 
did he move in his downward course, 
until he could trifle with religious 
matters. 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 29 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



On one occasion, a Christian lady 
said to him, " I fear, if you do not mend 
your ways something terrible will 
come upon you/^ Straightening up, 
with a bold face and voice he replied, 
" Let it comer Soon after this there 
was a terrific thunder storm. For 
hours before a cloud was visible dis- 
tant thunder was distinctly heard. 
About an hour before sunset the heav- 
ens were darkened by a most portent- 
ous cloud. The sharp and vivid light- 
ning, followed by successive peals of 
thunder, jarred the earth as if heaven^s 
entire artillery were in full play at 
once. Tall forest trees were shivered 
on all sides; many buildings were 



30 SURUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

struck, and a number burned to the 
ground. The storm continued with 
but Uttle abatement for most of the 
night, doing great damage, not only 
in that particular locality, but was far 
reaching in its destructive march. The 
storm occurred on the Sabbath day, 
and this lad, being out on his usual 
Sabbath excursion, stood in a neigh- 
bor's door when the cloud arose. Full 
of glee, and attempting to amuse the 
boys who stood around him, among 
other things, he flippantly said: ''Ah, 
boys, just see how they thunder and 
lighten up there !'' adding a rowdyish 
and trifling expression not proper to 
record. Scarcely had the sentence 
escaped his lips, when an electric 
shock brought him to the floor. 
For hours he was helpless and uncon- 
scious. There was no appearance of 
Hfe, and his friends who w^ere present 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 31 

thought he was dead. All efforts to 
revive him seemed vam. He was struck 
down some time before dark and re- 
mained unconscious until late in the 
evening. He finally aroused as from 
sleep^ and made many unsuccessful ef- 
forts to speak ; at last stammering 
out : '^ What is the matter f and ex- 
pressing great surprise at finding hinir 
self at a neighbor's house in the night. 
The lady of the house replied^ " We 
are all struck by lightning. '^ 

Till that moment he had not mis- 
trusted the cause of his trouble. The 
whole family had felt the shock. Two 
boys standing near fell to the floor, 
but soon recovered. One of them 
sprang to his feet and ran some rods, 
crying at the top of his voice, " I'm 
dead! Vm deadl^^ Only the subject 
of this narrative was badly injured. 
His pain was excruciating. 



32 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

Meanwhile^ his eldest brother, mount- 
ed on the swiftest horse in the neigh- 
borhood, was flying through the forest 
in pursuit of a physician, seven miles 
distant. This was the severest and 
most far-reaching thunder storm that 
the oldest inhabitants had ever wit- 
nessed. The rain poured in torrents ; 
but on he rode, leaping logs and dash- 
ing through streams, his track made 
visible only by the rapid gleams of 
the lightning as it shivered the mon- 
archs of the forest which fell here 
and there on either side. 

About the time the lad was able to 
converse the doctor arrived. He was 
an infidel and a great trifler. This 
youth being of like temperament, they 
had been in the habit of merry-mak- 
ing whenever they met. Though pres- 
ent circumstances seemed rather un- 
friendly to such indulgence, it was not 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 33 

wholly dispensed with. On entering 
the room^ the doctor swore he did not 
know what to do with the case^ as he 
had never before seen one of the kind ; 
Avhich was evidently true. But he 
must^ of course^ do something. 

His first resort was to the lancet. 
While the blood was flowing freely 
from the opened vein^ the pain wholly 
ceased^ and the doctor and this lad 
had as merry a time for a few minutes 
as on former occasions. 

To show how a hearty once tender, 
may be hardened by sin, I give a little 
of their conversation : 
^ Dr, — Well, boy, if you recover 
from this shock, and I want to rally 
an army at any time, I'll just have you 
for a soldier ; for a fellow Avho can 
stand lightning like you would never 
mind a bullet at all. 

Boy. — Fm your chap, doctor, you 



34 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

cannot do better ; you see how well I 
can stand lightning myself, and Tve a 
horse that can outrun it any time. If 
I had only been on his back this time 
it would not have overtaken me. 

Dr. — Well^ how the d came 

lightning to hit so spry a felloAV as you 
are^ anyway? 

Boy. — Why^ they gave a fellow no 
chance. It came percussion-like^ or 
I should have dodged it. 

In this strain the conversation went 
on^ until the bleeding was finished and 
the arm bandaged^ when the pain re- 
turned severe as ever^ which made 
plenty of business^ both for himself 
and the doctor^ without further jest- 
ing. 

Upon examination, it was found 
that the electricity had passed through 
his hat, entering the top, and passing 
out through the side and brim, leaving 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 35 

three holes. He felt that this was a 
loud call, and often feared it might be 
his last one on this side of the iudg;- 
ment. Still he avoided^ as far as pos- 
sible, all appearance of seriousness 
even in his severest sufferings. 

Soon after recovering^ he Avas in- 
vited to a " husking-bee ^^ — a common 
gathering in that region — where^ as 
usual^ he amused the company w^ith 
mirthful songs and stories. A young 
man, noted for his moderation, walk- 
ing slowly up to him, said : ''I guess 
you have forgotten that you were 
struck with lightning, haven't you T^ 
" I had, indeed,'' was the reply, " until 
I saw you moving to'rds me, just noAv, 
so much like a streak of lightning. 
Your very motion was enough^ sir, 
without a word.'^ 

This raised a roar of laughter, and 
the boy was proud to think he had 



36 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

rolled off the reproof in a fine joke 
upon one who had dared to reprove 
him in company. Thus was every se- 
rious thing turned into a jest^ though 
— as he has been since heard to say — 
he often shuddered when alone^ to 
think of his Heaven-daring conduct. 



CONVERTED. 37 



CONVERTED, 



At the age of nineteen he became 
an apprentice to a man whose wife 
was pious^ and who gave him much 
good advice. But his whole mind 
was occupied with the foolish amuse- 
ments of the day. A young man with 
whom he was intimate^ was suddenly 
cut down by death. The youth was 
greatly alarmed as death approached. 
He called on almost all visitors to pray 
for him^ often declaring his room was 
full of devils^ waiting to drag his soul 
down to hell ! He faithfully warned 
his associates to prepare to die while 
in healthy and not put it off till the 
death hour^ as he had done. The 
funeral sermon was preached from, 



38 SURUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

'^How shall Ave escape if we neglect 
so great salvation T'' The minister 
faithfully warned the youth of his 
congregation. 

As the funeral procession passed the 
house — Avhere a short time previous^ 
this youth^ in company with the de- 
ceased^ had spent the night at a ball 
— he resolved to dance no more, to 
quit all sin, and seek the Lord without 
delay. 

Experience had taught him the folly 
of attempting reformation in his own 
strength. He immediately commenced 
looking to God for help. Having 
prayed in secret for some days with- 
out any perceptible change for the 
better, he resolved to go to a Metho- 
dist prayer meeting, in hope that light 
might be thrown upon his dark path. 
He went, but returned unblessed ; 
" feeling all the way ^' — to use his own 



CONVERTED. 39 

language — ^^ as if tlie devil was after 
him/^ The next Sunday evenings after 
a desperate effort^ he arose and re- 
quested prayer. A seat was provided 
for serious ones^ at which he bowed, 
and prayer w^as continued for him 
until midnight. lie left the place in 
sadness^ but with a settled purpose to 
obtain salvation or die in the attempt. 
About six weeks from this time, hear- 
ing of a revival about five miles dis- 
tant, where some of his associates 
were seeking religion, he hastened to 
the spot, praying all the way that 
some door of hope might there be 
opened. At the close of the sermon, 
penitents being invited forivard for 
prayer, he hastened to the seat desig- 
nated for that purpose, remaining on 
his knees some time after the congre- 
gation had dispersed. He lodged that 
night with an old minister^ who re- 



40 STRUCK BY LIGHTNIXG. 

ported the next morning that the lad 
kept him awake nearly all night with 
his prayers and groans. The morning 
came, but no salvation vet. He was 
now tempted to think the church 
would doubt his sincerity, as God re- 
fused to notice his prayers. He also 
began to fear that there might be 
too much excitement in the meetings 
for him, and that he should not find 
salvation until he returned home, and 
souo'ht it more privately ! Accordino:ly 
he started for home, with a settled 
purpose, however, to continue seeking 
until saved or damned. 

He had gone but a few rods^ when 
he was met bv a vouno- convert, who 
inquired where he was going. " I 
am going home,'' said he, giving his 
reasons for so doino-. ^^This,''' said 
the young disciple, is a trick of the 
devil, you must go right back^ and 



CONVERTED. 41 

stay with me until you are converted/^ 
" I had not/^ said the retiring one^ 
^' mistrusted that the devil had any 
hand in this, but if that is the case I 
will go back. I have followed Satan 
long enough.^' 

On reaching the meeting, he entered 
a love-feast — being the first he had 
ever attended. Seekers of religion 
were specially invited to speak. 
Though he could not tell w^hat God 
had done for him, as did many of his 
companions, he resolved to tell what 
Satan and sin had done, and expressed 
his purpose to forsake them forever. 
On taking his seat, his countenance 
began to light up, while hope nestled 
in his bosom. Again he arose and ut- 
tered a few words in a more hopeful 
tone. His burden was now so re- 
moved that he was prompted to make 
the third speech before the meeting 



42 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

closed, from which his brethren con- 
chided he was clearly converted/ 
though he did not profess religion. 
The real day had evidently dawned 
upon him^ though the Spirit^s witness 
was not yet clear. At the close of 
the love-feast he united, on probation, 
with the church. This was in the 
spring of 1834. 

Among others who were instru- 
mental in promoting the above revival, 
was a talented colored local preacher 
called " Black Tim.'' This man had 
been the subject of ridicule by this 
youth, who would strike up what he 
called a ^^ nigger song/' when Timothy 
was passing in the street; and often 
"say, " If that nigger ever speaks to 
me about religion I will spit in his 
face." The second man who spoke to 
him at the altar was Black Tim ! But 
instead of spitting in his face he was 



CONVERTED. 43 

glad to catch some word from his Hps 
that might lead him to Christ. 

Speaking in after years of this event, 
he said: " God led me to the fount- 
ain of life in a way best calculated 
to humble my proud heart. I had 
for some time been looking for some 
bright winged angel from Heaven to 
help me to the fountain^ but instead 
of that^ God sent a negro ! The water 
of life was^ however^ just as sweet and 
refreshing as if an archangel had con- 
ducted me thither. Indeed^ such was 
the change that came over me^ that 
' Black Tim/ himself, seemed like an 
angel. I loved him ^ fervently.^ I 
shall never forget his earnest prayer 
(with his hand on my head) that God 
would convert the lad, and make him 
a minister^ though it seemed to me he 
was oifering the Lord strange timber 
for such a purpose.'' Strange as it 



44 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

then seemed^ Black Tim's prayer was 
answered^ and this young man has 
been preaching the gospel for nearly 
forty years^ during which time God 
has blest his labors in leading hun- 
dreds of sinners to Christ. Since this 
work was commenced the writer has 
been specially requested by an able 
and useful minister^ to state the fact 
of his (the minister's) conversion 
through said instrumentality, and of 
his knowledge of many others thus 
brought to God, who are now watch- 
men on Zion^s walls. But of this, 
more will be said in its proper place. 
The steps by which our new convert 
reached this position, now claim at- 
tention. 

Returning from the revival, where 
he was saved, he purchased a pocket- 
Bible and a Methodist hymn-book, 
w^hich he called his " sword and pis- 



CONVERTED. 45 

tol/^ These, constituting most of his 
hbrary^ were thoroughly read. For 
some weeks^ he was strongly tempted 
to doubt the genuineness of his con- 
version. Comparing his experience 
with those who seemed to be more 
clearly saved, he was often heard to 
wish he could feel as they did. En- 
couraged by older brethren, who 
knew how to " support the weak/^ he 
lived in the discharge of all known 
duty, constantly looking for clearer 
light. One evening, on his way home 
from church, the light came. The 
witness of the spirit was given clear 
as the noonday sun. Such was his 
joy that the entire night was spent in 
praise to God. 

This blessing, however, like the pre- 
vious light, came in an unlooked-for 
manner. " I had,^' said he, " hoped 
that God would commission angels to 



46 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

communicate to me the tidings of my 
acceptance^ or do it by some glorious 
visible display^ which I could not 
doubt. But no angels came^ no visible 
object appeared. But a much more 
satisfactory thing was done. Instead 
of sending a messenger God came 
Himself^ and spoke to my soul as an- 
gels cannot speak. It was the voice 
of Him who said : ' Let there be 
light^ and there was light.^ I now 
' read my title clear to a mansion in 
the skies.'' ^' 



SANCTIFIED, 47 



SANCTIFIED. 



The impression soon became quite gen- 
eral that this youth would preach the 
Gospel. When his brethren expressed 
their views to him on this subject^ 
he uniformly disclaimed all idea of 
preaching, expressing great surprise 
that any one should think God would 
call so weak an instrument to so great 
a work. His want of early education 
was urged as a sufficient reason for 
resisting all impressions of the kind. 
Still he professed an undying desire 
for the salvation of men, and a pur- 
pose to do all in his power to urge 
them to the cross. 

His sincerity in this was apparent in 
all his movements. The Bible was daily 



48 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

studied upon his knees, and other 
books read as opportunity presented. 
Sin seldom passed unreproved in his 
presence. All plain duties were 
promptly discharged, both public and 
private. It was soon apparent to all 
that he was growing both in grace 
and gifts. Walking thus in the clear 
light he soon became deeply impressed 
with the need of a pure heart, as do 
all who are soundly converted and 
" walk not after the flesh, but after 
the Spirit.^' A quotation from his 
own pen, will best describe his feel- 
ings. 

^^I feel the remains of pride, anger, 
fear of man, and a kindred brood of 
inbred corruptions rising involuntarily, 
and often unexpectedly in my hearty 
and at times threatening to overpower 
me. Though, by constant watching 
unto prayer, I am able to prevent 



SANCTIFIED. 49 

these unhallowed propensities from 
breaking out in words and actions^ it 
is painful to feel that they are still 
lurking within. Some say to me : 
' This is your warfare. You can only 
hope to conquer these enemies at 
death.^ Others say^ ^The grace of 
God is sufficient to subdue them at 
once.^ I can see nothing in death to 
help me^ and therefore look to Jesus 
as my deliverer/^ 

About this time the memoirs of 
Bramwell, Longden^ Carvosso^ and 
others were placed in his hands, which 
deepened his conviction for purity. 
Thetestimony of a devout sister, given 
in love-feast, greatly encouraged him. 

She said, ^^I have buried all my 
children — six in number — within a few 
weeks, and I laid the last one in the 
coffin with as much composure as I 
ever laid it in the cradle. ^^ She pro- 



50 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

fessed to enjoy the blessing of perfect 
love. He left the meeting resolved 
never to rest short of this high state 
of grace. His conviction for the bless- 
ing was deep. Hours were spent in 
the woods^ with his face literally upon 
the ground^ looking to God for a clean 
heart. While in this state of mind, 
hearing of a sister, who enjoyed 
the blessing, he walked about seven 
miles to see and converse with her 
upon the subject. After usual saluta- 
tions, the following conversation took 
place : 

Convert. — ^^ I have come from 

D , on purpose to converse with 

you on the subject of holiness. Hav- 
ing sought this blessing for some time 
without success, I thought it might 
help me to talk with a living witness 
of this great salvation.^^ 

Mrs, A. — (After quite a pause and 



SANCTIFIED. 51 

evident embarrassment) " I am sorry 
to say you have come to the wrong 
place/' 

C. — " I was told that you enjoyed 
the blessmg/' 

A, — ^^I once enjoyed it^ but^ amid 
opposition^ ceased to speak of it 
openly, and thus lost it.'^ 

The young man went home sadly 
disappointed^ but subsequently learned 
that the conversation was not in vain^ 
as it aroused the sister to seek and 
recover the lost favor. 

The following from his journal will 
best describe his views and feelings at 
this period of life : 

" My feelings became more and 
more intense. My conviction seemed 
deeper than when seeking pardon, 
though very different in nature. Con- 
viction preceding conversion, con- 
sisted mainly in a deep sense of guilt 



52 SURUCK BY LIGHTNING^ 

and danger^ none of which attended 
this. I enjoyed a clear evidence of 
acceptance with God. My conviction 
consisted in a deep sense of want. A 
painful consciousness of unlikeness to 
Christy attended with an undying de- 
sire for purity^ and power to labor 
successfully for the salvation of others. 
It was a real " huno;erino; and thirst- 
ing after righteousness.^' One even- 
ing while prostrate before God in 
earnest prayer^ the suggestion was 
clearly made to my mind^ as if spoken 
audibly : " Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ r' I did believe. My faith 
said the great salvation is mine^ for it 
was provided for me. Instantly an 
indescribable influence came upon me 
which spread through my entire be- 
ings completely removing my sense of 
want and filling me with unspeakable 

joy. 



SANCTIFIED. 53 

My soul and body seemed over- 
whelmed with a sense of the Divme 
presence. 

The next morning after this change, 
he and his employer^ Mr. D.^thus con- 
versed : 

Youth. — T feel inclined to tell you a 
little of my experience. 

D. — I like to hear such experience. 

Y. — It seems to me I am the happi- 
est being that ever God made. I was 
so blessed last night that I did not 
sleep a moment. 

D. — I guess you enjoy life pretty 
well^ and why not? You have no 
family cares^ nor anything to annoy 
you. 

Y, — I perceive you do not under- 
stand the source of my joy. The love 
of God has cast out all slavish fear 
from my heart. The fear of death 
and of want is all gone. If it were 



54 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

the will of God that I should die now, 
I would not turn round to save my 
life. 

D, — You must be a little excited. 
One so young as you, and enjoying 
life so well can hardly be willing to 
die. 

Y, — Though unable to make you 
see it, I am happy to know the truth 
of what I affirm. '* Glory to JesusT 



CALL TO PREACH. 55 



CALL TO PREACH. 



FIRST EFFORT. 

Under this Divine baptism his duty 
to preach the Gospel became quite 
clear. Still, he very properly con- 
cluded, if this impression is of God, 
He will continue to produce a corre- 
sponding impression on the church. 
And so it was. Being more and more 
satisfied that God intended the young 
man for the ministry, the church soon 
voted him a license to exhort. Before 
leaving the church where the license 
was given, a brother said to him : 
" You must hold meeting with us next 
Sabbath/' He replied: ^^I never 
talked five minutes in succession in 
pubhc, have not a discourse in the 



56 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

world^ and yet^ Providence permit- 
mg, I will be there and see what the 
Lord may help me to do/' 

The following night was spent in 
prayer and effort to arrange for the 
coming Sabbath. He could think of 
nothing that seemed worth saying. 
The week passed^ and his mind seemed 
a perfect blank. Sabbath mornings 
on the way to his appointment^ a few 
thoughts were suggested^ in the pre- 
sentation of which he occupied about 
ten minutes^ closing up under great 
embarrassment. A brother followed 
with a warm exhortation^ '^ which '^ — 
said the young man — ^' gave me some 
relief, as the people were not called 
out in vain.^^ At the close of service, 
a brother said to him : " You must 
plan to give us another discourse; I 
think your brief talk was just what 
we needed.'' '' No/' he replied — '' If 



CALL TO PREACH. 57 

God and the people will forgive me 
this foolish attempt, I promise never 
to tax their time and patience again. '^ 
On returning home^ he met the min- 
ister who signed his license^ when they 
conversed thus : 

Exhorter. — I am here to surrender 
my license ; here is the paper ; I intend 
never to use it again. 

Minister. — You have got through 
with your commission quick. AVhat 
is the matter ? 

E. — I never had a commission. I 
was mistaken, and so were my breth- 
ren, in supposing I had a call to the 
ministry. 

M. — How have you settled this so 
quickly ? 

E. — By making a complete failure 
in my attempt to exhort at D. God 
did not help me at all, and I resolved 
before leaving the place, never to show 



58 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

myself in public again — would gladly 
o;ive all I am worth if I could blot 
from the memory of man the transac- 
tion of last Sabbath. 

31. — You are certainly under the 
power of temptation. The enemy 
would drive you from the field. Your 
•Sabbath talk did not appear to others 
as it did to you. You expect too 
much to begin with. God will make 
you creep before you walk. 

The minister then related some of 
his own trials as a public speaker^ at 
which the young exhorter expressed 
great surprise^ and^ being strongly 
urged, said^ '' I guess I must try it 
once more.^^ 

His next effort proved more satis- 
factory to himself^ and^ as others pro- 
fessed to be blessed under it^ he was 
encouraged to persevere. 



CASTING OUT A DEVIL. 59 



CASTING OUT A DETII. 



Among his first efforts at public 
speaking he held a meeting at " State 
Road/^ near the place of his conver- 
sion. An eccentric young man by 
the name of Dayton F. Reed came 
out to hear him. He was talented^ 
and knew it^ and was there to criti- 
cise the young speaker. He was a 
Universalist^ and delighted m debate. 
The young exhorter dwelt upon the 
brevity and uncertainty of life^ and 
the necessity of an early preparation 
for heaven^ with a Divine unction that 
touched young Reed's heart. At the 
close of the discourse others were in- 
vited to speak^ especially those who 
desired salvation. To the surprise of 



60 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

all^ Reed sprang at once to his feet. 
A blast on Universalisni Avas expected 
by many^ but^ to their astonishment^ 
he said (in substance)^ " I came here 
for amusement^ and to pick the dis- 
com^se of the speaker^ but it has 
picked me all to pieces. I am a sin- 
ner and want religion^ and arise to 
ask the prayers of christians. I may 
not succeed, but shall do the best I 
can. I am a very proud, wicked 
youth. But few know how proud 
and self-conceited I am. I am full of it. 
I feel it moving in my heart while I 
talk. If you can have any faith for 
such a sinner pray for me.'^ He then 
fell on his knees and commenced 
praying for himself. Others prayed 
earnestly for him. He was encour- 
aged, but not converted. 

Some days subsequent he pro- 
fessed to find comfort in God, but 



CASTING OUT A DEVIL. 61 

was not clear. Soon^ a dense cloud 
seemed to settle upon him. His mind 
was wonderfully exercised^ and he ex- 
pressed to the exhorter fears that he 
mio'ht become insane, as his mother 
had been. Mental alienation increased^ 
until he made several efforts to kill 
himself. One night he sprang from 
his bed through a window^ staving 
out a number of lights^ and ran for 
the woods. The neighbors were ral- 
lied^ and after some hours' search he 
was found in a state of perfect nudity, 
with his shirt twisted into a rope and 
fastened to a small tree, where he was 
attempting to hang himself. 

He was first discovered by Rev. 
Timothy Coggins, the colored local 
preacher already referred to. Upon 
his approach^ Reed said to him^ " Well, 
Mr. Devil, I see you have come, and I 
suppose I must submit.'^ He returned 



62 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

with Black Tim to the house. He was 
then confined in a small room where 
he attempted to starve himself. For 
three days he utterly refused to take 
food. Feeling a deep sympathy for 
Reed and his afilicted friends^ this 
young exhorter, with ^^ Father Davy/^ 
(an aged^ holy minister)^ and a 
brother^ E. Mints, resolved to visit him 
and pray for his recovery. Father 
Davy declared Reed was possessed 
of a devil which must be cast out. 
After hearing this man of God relate 
several instances where the prayer 
of faith had ejected evil spirits^ they 
went to the house where young Reed 
was confined. They had a season of 
prayer, in which God was powerfully 
present. Their united faith claimed 
the divine promise, and all felt sure 
that help was at hand. While they 
were praying, Reed climbed up and 



CASTING OUT A DEYIL. 63 

looked fiercely at them through an 
opening over the door of his room. 
When they arose from prayer^ Father 
Davy said^ ^^Now we must let him 
out/^ Though his friends expressed 
some fears of the result^ his door was 
opened ; whereupon he sprang for the 
window^ through which he had once 
escaped. All three of these brethren 
seized him and with difficulty pre- 
vented a repetition of his exit. Though 
small and emaciated^ he seemed armed 
with supernatural strength. While 
making all possible efforts to extricate 
himself from the grasp of these breth- 
ren^ he kept crying : " Hold on^ Father 
Davy^ hold on Y^ As he lay stretched 
across a bed, with his head near the 
broken window, at Avhich he aimed, 
Father Davy, holding on to him Avitli 
one hand, and raising the other over 
him, said with a loud voice: " Bi the 



G-t STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

name of Jesus Christy of Nazareth^ 1 
command iJiee to let go thy hold and 
come out of him P^ Instantly the yonng 
man became perfectly qniet, sat up^ 
and asked for food^ conversing as ra- 
tionally as ever. 

Food was brought^ he ate^ Avent to 
bed^ and rested qnietly throngh the 
night. Thongh subsequently strongly 
tempted^ the dreadful snare was bro- 
ken^ and he soon obtained a clear re- 
ligious experience^ commenced preach- 
ing the gospel^ and was for years a 
very successful evangelist. The writer 
can vouch for the above facts^ what- 
ever may be thought of the case. 

Those who knew the man and his 
success in demolishing the strongholds 
of Satan, would hardly wonder that 
the devil should make a special effort 
to prevent his entering the ministry. 
His manner of teaching was much 



CASTING OUT A DEVIL. 65 

like Lorenzo Dow. Though early taken 
from his labor to his reward in heav- 
en^ many hundreds were converted 
through his instrumentality. But to 
return to the subject of our narrative. 
The spirit in which he commenced 
public life may be found in the follow- 
ing extract from his diary : 

July 4^ 1837. — A day of unutterable 
peace. 

July 8^ ( Sabbath ). — Exhorted 
twice during the day^ and attended a 
glorious prayer meeting in the even- 
ing. Never witnessed such displays of 
Divine power before. Seven lay pros- 
trate under the power of God. The 
meeting was dismissed at the usual 
hour^ but many were unable to leave, 
and others refused to go ; so the meet- 
ing continued until three o'clock in 
the morning. Several were clearly 
saved. 



66 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

July 10. — Unspeakably happy. 
Health poor — must be more regular in 
Miy sleep. 

July 21. — A clay of fasting — my 
soul is full of Divine love. Glory to 
Jesus ! 

July 22. — I was never happier 
than now. All is dedicated to God. 
Glory ^ Glory ^ Glory to the Lar)ih Vs\\o^q 
blood note cleanseth my poor heart. 

July 23. — I have ^^joy unspeak- 
able.^^ " How happy is the pilgrim's 
lot/' is my constant song. 

July 26. — Quite feeble. Eaised 
considerable blood from my lungs yes- 
terday, while passing through a piece 
of woods alone Was never happier. 
Felt willing to die alone with Jesus. 
Glory to His ncmie I 

When I commenced public speak- 
ing I looked for a failure of my brain, 
but never once thought of trouble 



CASTING OUT A DEVIL. 67 

with my lungs. But God can make 
all work for good. 

July 27.— At Major D's, on the Del- 
aware Kiver. Appetite gone. Con- 
stant pain in my left side. Sister D. 
told me this mornings she thought I 
was not aware of my bodily weak- 
ness. She thought my life would be 
very short. My reply was : " The 
Lord^s will be done. I am very happy 
in God. It seems to me I shall live to 
preach the Gospel/^ 

July 29. — Health better. Yester- 
day while engaged in prayer^ my 
physical frame was sensibly strength- 
ened. 

July 30. (Sunday). — Health im- 
proving. Tempted^ but trust jinn, 

Aug. 2. — Somewhat depressed in 
spirit. Don^t know the cause. Lord 
show me. 



68 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, 

Aug. 9. — 111 N. M.^ Pa., preaching 
Jesus from house to house. 

Aug. 11. — Tempted of late to think 
I had lost the blessing of perfect love, 
but this morning all is clear. Peace 
flows like a river. 

Nov. 6, 1837.— At Brother R^s, 
Brooklyn, Pa. ! how happy I am. 
Mine is truly a life of faith on the Son 
of God. If faithful, it seems to me, 
God will entirely heal my body. God 
seems to call me to preach specifically 
on the doctrine of Holiness. 

Nov. 16. — Health improving. Very 
happy. Permitted to see some fruit of 
my labor. 

Nov. 17. — Day of fasting. Happy 
moments. Truly, " Great peace have 
they that love thy law.^^ 

Nov. 22. — Still happy, but antici- 
pate a storm. 

Nov. 23. — The anticipated storm is 



CASTING OUT A DEVIL. 69 

upon me. Lord help me to cleave to 
thee. 

Nov. 25. — The cloud breaks. The 
sky is clear. 

Nov. 26. — The happiest Sabbath I 
ever enjoyed. 



70 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



PROTRACTED MEETING ON " SATAN'S 
PREMISES/' 



Dec. 9^ 1837. — He was licensed to 
preach. Most of his time was spent 
laboring in destitute fields. In a 
wicked neighborhood^ upon which^ it 
was said^ ''the Devil had a mortgage,''' 
he preached every evenhig for a week 
in a private house. One little girl pre- 
sented herself at a ''mourner^s seat^^ for 
prayer. Fearing Satan's claim might 
hold the place^ he became discouraged 
and left. The second day after he 
took his leave^ a messenger was dis- 
patched to call him back^ who assured 
him that a revival had commenced as 
the result of his labor. He hastened 
back to see what had turned the tide of 



MEETING ON SATAN^S PREMISES. 71 

battle. He found that a very wicked 
man by the name of Duel had been 
used as the instrument. Duel had 
spent the last Sabbath of the meeting 
in hunting. Leaving his rifle in the 
entry^ he listened attentively to the 
sermon^ which put (as he afterwards 
said) " a bullet of truth right through 
his heart. ^^ He spent the night in 
great distress of mind^ and the next 
day began to look for some one to 
pray for him. He regretted much 
that he had allowed the meeting to 
close without presenting himself as a 
seeker of salvation ; but it was now too 
late. There were no praying persons 
near him. He finally thought of a 
Mr. Town^ living about two miles dis- 
tant^ whom he had heard pray in pub- 
lic in other years^ and resolved to go 
and solicit liis prayers. He stated his 
purpose to his family and a fcAV near 



72 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

neighbors^ requesting them to accom- 
pany him and seek salvation^ as they 
were all on the road to hell. Quite a 
company went with him ; beings by 
this time^ alarmed for themselves. 
Upon their arrival^ Duel said to Mr. 
T.^ '' We are a company of sinners, and 
have come here to have you pray for 
us." 

Mr. T. seemed thunderstruck; he 
was completely backslidden, and had 
not prayed for years. He seated his 
company, walked into another room, 
and said to his wife, who was a de- 
vout soul, " What shall I do ? This 
Mr. D. has come here with several of 
his neighbors to get me to pray for 
them^ and you know I have not 
prayed for years." 

She advised him to go in and con- 
fess his backsliding, pray for himself 
and then for his neighbors. He did 



MEETING ON SATAN^S PREMISES. 73 

so; and God blessed him^ and con- 
verted a number of the company that 
evening. The preacher was warmly 
greeted on his return^ and the revival 
progressed until about thirty souls 
were saved. A class was formed ; a 
church was soon built^ and regular 
circuit preaching established^ which 
continues until this day. This Mr. T., 
who was reclaimed through the in- 
strumentality of this great sinner^ has 
never since faltered in his religious life 
— so far as known. He was greatly 
instrumental in building the new 
chapel^ and became one of the strongest 
official members of the church. Thus 
was this youthful preacher encouraged 
to toil on among those who were des- 
titute of the Word of Life^ and God 
blessed his labors more and more. 
About this time, but a few miles from 
this place, there were six persons 



74 SURUCK BY LIGHTXINCt. 

soundly converted to God, and several 
sanctified in a family prayer-meeting 
conducted by him. 

Many such instances, under his labor 
as a local preacher, might be named 
would space permit. 



FIRST CIRCUIT. 75 



FIRST CIRCUIT, 



REVIVAL IN '^ haying/^ 

In April^ 1838. — Sickness causing a 
vacancy on the C. circuity he was 
called to serve the charge for the 
balance of the conference year. 

He found the church very much 
divided on account of the trial and 
expulsion of one of its prominent 
members. Stilly many were saved 
during his stay of four months among 
them. His whole time was employed 
in efforts to save souls. 

One day^ while on his way to make 
a pastoral visit at Brother C.^s^ he 
paused to rest^ and read several pages 
of the " Life of Benjamin Abbott." 
He then fell upon his knees and said : 



76 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

" Lord, if it be thy will to display 
thy power as in Abbott's time, under 
my labor, let me see a soul saved in 
the family I am about to visit /^ He 
found a large family, five of whom 
were members of the church. At the 
hour of evening prayer, he proposed 
a family prayer-meeting. A glorious 
baptism of the Spirit came on the 
household. Before the praying ceased, 
an unconverted son began to cry 
aloud for mercy, and was soon glori- 
ously saved. The younger children 
wept, and promised to give their 
hearts to God. 

His habit was to urge all, with 
whom he had intercourse, to imme- 
diate action in religious duty. 

During his stay among this people, 
a Mr. B. was pressed to return imme- 
diately from a backslidden state, lest 
death put him suddenly beyond the 



FIRST CIRCUIT. 77 

reach of mercy. He yielded. A few 
days subsequently^ while digging a 
well^ a tub of gravel fell and crushed 
him so that he survived but twelve 
hours. He died praising God that he 
had heeded the timely warning and 
prepared for the solemn event. 

When about to leave for conference^ 
being burdened for souls^ this young 
minister said to his congregation : " I 
must hold meetings in this house every 
evening this week. I know you are 
in the midst of haying and harvestings 
the evenings are shorty and some can- 
not attend ; but do not complain. You 
are not obliged to come. Nay^ I warn 
you not to come unless you can do it 
cheerfully.'^ The house was nightly 
filled; and a number of souls were 
converted. Though he professed no 
healing giffc^ many affirmed that they 
were healed instantly^ in answer to 



78 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

his prayers. One case only can now 
be named. On his way to conference^ 
he called on a Brother S.^ whose wife 
was very sick and groaning at almost 
every breath. The family were look- 
ing with anxiety for the doctor. It 
Avas nearly time for family devotion, 
and the preacher said to Brother S. 
'' I think God is willing to heal vour 
wife.'^ During the season of prayer 
her oToaniuo; ceased. She rested well 
throuo'h the night. The doctor did 
not come^ but the following day she 
went about her work^ j^raising God for 
the cure he had wrought in answer to 
prayer. 



SHORES HILL REVIVAL. 79 



SHORES HILL BETIVAL. 



SISTERS QUARREL SETTLED. 

Orwell Circuity with its eighteen 
preaching appointments^ was his next 
field of labor. Rev. G. Evens^ an old 
itinerant^ was his colleague and had 
charge of the circuit. The young min- 
ister's first sermon was preached on Or- 
well Hill to a large and intelligent au- 
dience^ some of whom he knew" had 
been in the habit of severely criticis- 
ing their young ministers. He preach- 
ed about fifteen minutes and conclud- 
ed by saying : " Brief and poor as is 
this sermon, it is probably a pretty 
fair specimen of what you will get.'^ 
Perceiving his embarrassment, and 
that he possessed some talent com- 



80 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

binecl with real humility^ these critics 
ralKed round him with words of en- 
couragement^ and^ to his surprise^ be- 
came his warmest friends and support- 
ers. He has often remarked that he 
never had a barren time in that pul- 
pit afterward. 

Much of his time was spent in visit- 
ing from house to house and praying 
with the people. On saying to his col- 
league " I have visited thirteen fami- 
lies to-day/^ the old man replied^ ^^If 
you keep on at this rate^ we shall soon 
have a glorious revival/^ and so it was. 
Father G. E.. however^ labored but 
little in the revival work^ though an 
able minister. Family cares and other 
duties connected with the charge occu- 
pied his time. 

The work first commenced on Shores 
Hill, where about thirty persons pre- 
sented themselves for prayer at the 



SHORES HILL REYIVALo 81 

first invitation. They wept aloud^ and 
seemed to pray fervently niglit after 
night for a week^ and not a soul was 
converted. The young minister began 
to think there must be a capital defect 
in his mode of instruction^ or they 
would be saved. He tried to put the 
meeting into the hands of a local minis- 
ter^ hoping thus to forward the work. 
The local brother refused to take the 
responsibility^ but encouraged him to 
hold on. Soon they began to come 
out^ clear as heaven^ and the work 
went on with power. 

In the midst of this revival^ a diffi- 
culty broke out between two sisters, 
both of them having families grown 
up, which were likely to be seriously 
injured by it. These Avomen were 
also active members of the church. 
The minister was greatly surprised 
and alarmed that such trouble should 



82 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

occur among church members in the 
midst of a revival. He called on the 
parties forthwith for the purpose of 
effecting a settlement. 

The first sister to whom he intro- 
duced the matter wept much^ de- 
clared she was not in faulty and was 
willing to do all in her power to settle 
the trouble. ^^Will you/^ inquired 
the preacher^ ^^ meet your sister this 
afternoon and talk the matter over ?^ 
" It will do no good/' she answered^ 
" my sister will fly into a passion and 
abuse me, making the matter worse 
than it now is.^^ " Will you/^ con- 
tinued the preacher, ^^ attend the 
meeting appointed at your sister^s this 
afternoon, and have an interview if 
she desires it ?' To this she agreed. 
He then hastened to see the other 
sister, and, after pressing the necessity 
of an immediate adjustment, inquired 



SHORES HILL REVIVAL. 83 

if she would talk the matter over in a 
Christian spirit and try to settle it. 
^^I would/^ said she with tears^ '^but 
it Avill do no good to attempt an in- 
terview with that sister. In the first 
place she would consent to no such 
things and if an interview were at- 
tempted she would get mad the first 
things and only make a bad matter 
worse. If you knew that sister as 
well as I do you would not advise an 
interview.^^ ^^I have just seen her/^ 
said the preacher^ " and she will soon 
be here on purpose to settle it up.^^ 
They met, talked and prayed over the 
matter^ kissed each other^ and so 
buried their trouble that the minister 
heard no more of it during his stay 
on the circuit. Thus might most 
church troubles be disposed of^ were 
God's order followed in their adjust- 
ment. 



84 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

The track seemed now clear, and 
the revival progressed with power. 
But Satan had reserve forces at hand. 

A young man by the name of Lyon 
(who had just returned from a ^^down- 
the-river ^^ trip) came into the congre- 
gation full of opposition to the work. 
He swore that the minister preached 
all his sermon about him^ looking right 
at him all the time^ and declared if he 
visited his father's house again he 
would meet with rough treatment. 
The neighbors advised the preacher 
to keep away from that furious, un- 
principled fellow. " I will take that 
Lyon by the beard/" said the preacher. 
He called on the family the next day, 
conversed closely with young Lyon 
about his soul^ and obtained a prom- 
ise of reformation. Another man de- 
clared the preacher was making the 
people crazy, and if he did not stop 



SHORES HILL REVIVAL. 85 

the meetings soon^ he would give him 
a whipping. He commanded his wife 
(who had just been converted) to quit 
reading her Bible so much^ or he 
would burn it. One day he snatched 
it from her^ throwing it into the fire. 
Observing that it did not immediately 
take fire^ he — under the smitings of 
conscience — snatched it from the 
flames before it was materially in- 
jured. The work of God still went on 
gloriously^ in spite of opposition. 



86 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



ACCUSED OF FORTUNE-TELLING. 



SOULS SAVED. 

In one neighborhood^ the report 
went out that he could tell fortunes^ 
and had done this correctly for seV" 
eral of his audience in his last sermon. 
On his next visit^ he found it had be- 
come a grave question whether he 
could really read the hearts of his 
audience or not^ which drew a large 
congregation in a sparsely settled com- 
munity. He assured them he could 
tell their fortunes, and if they would 
study an old book which he carried 
they might all tell their own fortunes 
for eternity. 

He referred them to the Bible^ press- 
ing the truth upon them with unu- 



ACCUSED OF FORTUNE-TELLING. 87 

sual force. Several were awakened 
and remained in class to inquire what 
they must do to be saved. 

A dozen or more were converted 
within a few days. 

In a neighborhood not far from 
this^ after visiting over a dozen fami- 
lies during the day^ with no apparent 
success^ he sat down at night and 
wept over the hardness of the people. 
That night he dreamed of visiting a 
very hardened family^ and saw them 
weep bitterly on account of their sins. 

So deeply was his mind impressed 
with this dream^ that he went to 
see the family before breakfast next 
morning, and conversed with each 
member closely. When about leav- 
ing, he asked Mrs. H. if she would 
now give her heart to God. She re- 
plied, " I will/^ and burst into a flood 
of tears. Another lady made the 



88 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

same pledge. Encouraged by this^ he 
went to the shop where Mr. H. and 
brother had by this tmie gone^ and 
soon secured thek pledge to seek sal- 
vation without delay. A revival im- 
mediately commenced^ in which many 
were converted. Thus did the work 
go on in different localities^ until dur- 
ing the year about one hundred and 
fifty souls were converted. The fol- 
lowing quotations from his diary will 
best describe the feelings of our young 
itinerant amid revival work. 

Dec. 22, 1838.— Glory to God for 
all his benefits towards me. I am now 
permitted to see the desire of my 
heart in the salvation of souls in C. 
neighborhood, over which I have 
wept and prayed much. Penitents are 
nightly at the altar, and shouts of the 
saved are heard on every side. My 
body is weak, but my faith was never 



1 



ACCUSED OF FORTUNE-TELLING. 89 

stronger. A doctor told me^ a few 
days since^ that I must quit preaching 
or die soon ! Well, I must die at my 
post. 

Jan. 21, 1839. — No tongue can ex- 
press my joy in God. My soul was 
filled with the divine glory at the com- 
mencement of the year, and has been 
expanding and receiving more and 
more ever since. I never saw more 
clearly that my preaching is only effi- 
cient when God speaks through me ; 
nor was I ever more sensible than of 
late, that he does thus speak. But, 
0, how prone to pause and wonder 
at the effect produced under the word 
without a clear view of the real cause. 
How tempted to take a little glory 
to myself! God save me from this 
sin. A minister remarked to me the 
other day, that he never had a good 
time in the pulpit but his spirits sank 



90 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

proportionately low soon after. I know 
this is often the case with me^ but not 
always. Is such depression the nat- 
ural result of getting happy ? It does 
not so appear to me. I believe such 
sinking of spirits is too often the re- 
sult oi pride. Where all the glory 
of our success is given to God our 
bliss must increase rather than lessen. 
Lord help me^ not only to say " Thine 
is the glory/^ but really give Thee all 
the glory of all my success. What a 
fool one must be to labor for the sal- 
vation of others, and himself be- 
come a castaway ! 



DREAMS, 91 



DREAMS. 



The following extract from his pen^ 
may be interesting to some^ though 
not written with a view of publica- 
tion: 

" I place very little confidence in 
dreams ; can almost always account 
for them without admitting anything 
like the supernatural. Stilly I have 
had dreams that have deeply impressed 
my mind^ and have had something to 
do with shaping my life. One of these 
was respecting a Rev. D. F. Reed^ who 
was converted under my labors while 
an exhorter. He was devoted^ tal- 
ented, and eccentric. The church 
hardly knew how to handle him. Im- 
mediately after conversion he com- 



92 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

menced preaching^ much after the 
style of Lorenzo Dow^ refusing to be 
confined to a regular charge. He 
was^ however, finally persuaded to as- 
sist Rev. B, Ellis, on Pike Circuit, and 
assured me of his purpose to remain 
there until the close of the conference 
year. This was about the middle of 
the year. 

^^A glorious revival soon commenced 
under his labors, and all seemed satis- 
factory. After being on the circuit 
about a month, and while I was en- 
gaged in a revival on Kinyon Hill, 
about twenty miles from there, I 
dreamed we met at Standing Stone — 
an appointment on my charge — where 
he proposed to help me in a protracted 
meeting, saying he had quit P. Circuit, 
being sure it was his duty to travel at 
large, and as soon as he got through 
with my meeting, he was going to 



DREAMS. 93 

New York to preach in the streets. 
I thought our S. Stone meeting was 
successful, and he left for New York, 
as proposed. 

'^ A day or two after the dream, I 
started for my regular appointment 
at Standing Stone. Calling at the 
house of my colleague, his wife met 
me at the door and asked, ^Have 
you heard that D. F. E. has slipped 
the yoke ? Upon receiving a nega- 
tive answer she continued, ' He has 
quit the circuit, and will preach at 
State Road to-night.^' 

'' I then related my dream, and ad- 
ded, if Brother R. meets me and talks 
as I dreamed, then dreams must have 
some significance. State Road being 
but little out of my way, I resolved 
to take that route, so as to be sure to 
see Brother R. I called at his nucleus, 
where they showed me liis satchel, 



94 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

which^ they said^ was packed to meet 
me at S. Stone the next day. I has- 
tened to the school-house where he 
was then dehvering a gospel message, 
at the close of which he said to me : 
^I have quit P. Circuit; I must travel 
at large ; am now en route for S. Stone 
to help you hold a protracted meet- 
ing ; from which place 1 shall go to 
New York to preach in the streets/ 
We had a successful meetings and D. 
F. R. left for New York. The impres- 
sion on my mind was^ that God had 
probably called him to that work. 
Having my own mind considerably 
exercised about evangelizing in the 
same manner^ it struck me that God 
might give me another dream that 
would settle my own mind respecting 
it. Accordingly, I prayed for light 
from the same quarter on my own 
case. That same night, after so pray- 



BREAMS. 95 

ing, I dreamed of picking berries 
along the highway side^ and making 
tolerable headway. Looking over 
the fence^ I saw very large berries 
hanging upon high bushes in great 
abundance. Dissatisfied with my pro- 
gress^ I scaled the high fence^ land- 
ing amid briers^ thorns and logs^ and 
to my utter astonishment^ not a single 
berry could be seen^ and it was with 
the greatest difficulty^ and consider- 
able injury^ that I made my way 
back to the road and resumed my 
work. I awoke with the impres- 
sion that the route I was then travel- 
ing was my place to gather fruit !'^ 

To show that this minister was not 
alone in his opinion of dreams, and to 
impress upon the reader a lesson of 
humility^ the following is copied from 
the life of Rev. Wm. Bramwell : 

^^A Gospel minister of evangelical 



96 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

principles^ whose name^ from the cir- 
cumstances that occurred^ it will be 
necessary to conceal^ being much fa- 
tigued at the conclusion of the after- 
noon service^ retired to his apartment 
in order to take a little rest. He had 
not long reclined upon his couch be- 
fore he fell asleep^ and began to dream. 
He dreamed that on walking into his 
garden he entered a bower that had 
been erected in it^ where he sat down 
to read and meditate. While thus 
employed he thought he heard some 
person enter the garden ; and^ leaving 
his bower^ immediately hastened to- 
ward the spot whence the sound 
seemed to come^ in order to discover 
who it was that had entered. He 
had not proceeded far before he dis- 
cerned a particular friend of his^ a 
gospel minister of considerable talents, 
who had rendered himself very popu- 



DREAMS. 97 

lar by his zealous and unwearied ex 
ertions in the cause of Christ. On 
approaching his friend he was sur- 
prised to find that his countenance 
was covered with a gloom^ which it 
had not been accustomed to wear^ and 
that it strongly indicated a violent 
agitation of mind^ apparently arising 
from conscious remorse. After the 
usual salutations had passed^ his friend 
asked the relator the time of the day ; 
to which he replied^ ^Twenty-five 
minutes after four.^ On hearing this 
the stranger said^ ^ It is only one hour 
since I died^ and now I am damned.^ 
' Damned ! for what ? ^ inquired the 
dreaming minister. ' It is not/ said 
he^ ' because I have not preached the 
gospel^ neither is it because I have 
not been rendered useful^ for I have 
now many seals to my ministry^ who 
can bear testimony to the truth as it 



98 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

is in Jesus, which they have received 
from my hps ; but it is because I 
have been accumulating to myself the 
applause of men more than the honor 
which Cometh from above ; and, 
verily, I have my reward ! ^ Having 
uttered these expressions, he hastily 
disappeared and was seen no more. 
The minister awaking shortly after- 
ward, with the contents of this dream 
deeply engraven on his memory, pro- 
ceeded, overwhelmed with serious re- 
flections, toward his chapel in order 
to conduct the evening service. On 
his way thither he was accosted by a 
friend, who inquired whether he had 
heard of the severe loss the church 
had sustained in the death of that able 
minister. He replied, ' No ; ^ but, be- 
ing much affected at this singular in- 
telligence, he inquired of him the day 
and the time of the day when his de- 



TOO NEAR HELL. 99 

parture took place. To this his friend 
repHed : ' This afternoon, at twenty- 
five mmutes after three o'clock/ ^^ 



TOO NEAR HELL TO SPEND TIME 
WITH. 



Soon after entering upon his work 
on Pitston Circuit he thus writes : 

" I have been round this circuit 
three times^ and have seen more infi- 
delity than in all my previous life. 
Surely this must be 'where Satan s 
seat is ! ^ ^^ 

An incident will serve as a speci- 
men of the many hard cases with 
whom he met in his first trip round 
the circuit. 



100 STRUCK BY LIGHTXIXG. 

After visiting a wicked family he 
found his horse feeding in the door- 
yard, and a stranger — who was a Uttle 
drunk — holding him by the halter. 
On meeting, they conversed as fol- 
lows : 

Stranger, — I thought while you 
were visiting, your horse better be 
eating. 

Minister. — Much obliged. Hope 
you love God, sir. 

S. — 1 don^t think much of religion ; 
I had a brother who professed it, and 
yet wronged me out of all my pro- 
perty. 

M. — Do you believe the Bible ? 

S, — Not all of it. I don't believe 
in such a hell as you talk about. 
Wonder where hell is ? 

M, — Only a little ahead; you are 
on the direct road ; keep right on and 
you can't miss it. Good-by, sir ! 



TOO NEAR HELL. 101 

S. — Sold on ! I came out of the 
field on purpose to talk. 

M. — You are too near hell to spend 
time with. I must talk with more 
hopeful cases. 

S, — (Greatly in earnest.) See here : 
" Perhaps the Bible is true. I often 
fear it is; come^ just go into my part 
of the house and see my sick wife. 
She is a Christian V^ 

The minister paused^ and prayed 
with the family, leaving the man ap- 
parently both sober and serious. 



102 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



A SKEPTIC AWAKENED. 



His next call was on a Mr. Avery, 
who resided near his evening appoint- 
ment. Finding himself in contact 
with another infidel^ they conversed 
in substance^ as follows : 

Minister, — (After nsual salutations.) 
1 find this country quite filled up with 
infidels. T hope you believe the Bi- 
ble, sir ? 

Avery, — I have doubts about it. 

M. — Do you believe m a God? 

A. — Most certainly. All nature 
teaches that great truth, and a man 
must be a fool to doubt it. 

M. — Do you think you have any 
duties to discharge to God. 

A, — Certainly. 




A SKEPTIC AWAKENED. 103 

M. — How do you learn your duties 
to God without a Bible ? 

A. — From God^s great book of na- 
ture. 

M. — Please name some duties there- 
in taught. 

A. — To love God and my neighbor. 

M. — From what part of God's book 
of nature do you learn your duty to 
love him ? 

A. — From various parts. 

M. — Please give chapter and verse. 

A. — We should love God because 
He is good and lovely. 

M. — How do you prove, without a 
Bible^ that He is good and lovely ? 

A. — He gives us sunshine and 
showers and fruitful fields which all 
prove his goodness. 

M, — He sends blasting and mildew 
to destroy our crops; earthquakes 
and pestilence to destroy our property 



104 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

and our lives ; therefore^ according to 
your own interpretation of his book, 
God is not good and lovely, but a 
tyrant ! 

After further conversation, Avery 
acknowledged his dissatisfaction with 
his own theory, and went out to hear 
the young man preach. The truth 
touched his heart, and he remained 
in class after preaching, and arose 
and requested the prayers of Chris- 
tians for his salvation. 

Notwithstanding the hardness of 
the moral soil about two hundred w^ere 
converted during the year. 



PUBLIC TALK WITH A UNIVERSALIST. 



During a protracted meeting in a 
TJniversalist neighborhood^ a stranger 
by the name of Doud^ after hstening 
to the testimony of young converts^ 
arose and said : " I am an older man 
than either of these ministers [a young 
Baptist preacher was also in the pul- 
pit] and presume I have read the 
Bible more than either of them; I 
believe in religion^ but not in that 
hell about which so much has been 
said. I advise these young ministers 
to read their Bible more^ and they 
will not preach such stuff. A state of 
sin^ degradation and condemnation is 
the hottest hell man will ever find.'^ 

To this the minister replied : " This 



106 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, 

is no place for debate, but since this 
gentleman has forced upon us his Uni- 
versalist notions, it becomes my duty 
to reply. He has rightly said we are 
young and should study the Bible. 
We desire all the light we can get^ 
and will ask Mr. D. a few questions, 
as he is inclined to instruct us. 

Below are the questions as proposed 
and answered : 

Minister, — Will Mr. D. please tell us 
if he thinks Jesus Christ visited this 
world for the purpose of doing a work 
for man, which man could not do for 
himself? 

Doud, — I do. 

J/. — Did he finish the work for 
which he came ? 

D. — Of course he did ; He did not 
leave it half done as you partialists 
teach. 

M. — What was that work ? 



TALK WITH A UNIVERSALIST. 107 

D, — To save the worlds of course. 

M. — The whole world ? 

D. — Yes^ sir. 

J/;— What from ? 

D, — Not from an eternal hell^ but 
from a state of sin doubt^ degrada- 
tion^ condemnation and fear. 

M, — Now let us compare the gen- 
tleman's statements. In his speech he 
said man would never find a hotter 
hell than the state of fear^ degrada- 
tion^ doubt and condemnation^ in 
which we now are. In answer to my 
questions^ he says^ " Christ came to 
save us from all this, and finished his 
work; not leaving it half done as we 
partialists teach ! ^' Why then is he 
here attempting to do a job that 
Jesus Christ finished? Let all open 
their eyes to the light reflected by 
this most positive contradiction ! 

But Mr. D. may liavc light for us 



108 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

on other points. Before embracing 
Universalism we want light on John 
v., 28, 29 : " Marvel not at this : for 
the hour is coming, in the which all 
that are in their graves shall hear his 
voice and shall come forth ; they that 
have done good mito the resurrection 
of life ; and they that have done evil 
unto the resurrection of damnation.'^ 
Will the gentleman please reconcile, 
this scripture with his Universalist 
theory? Tell us^ especially, what is 
here meant by the word "gravest 

D, — That is easily done. It must 
mean — as in many other parts of the 
Bible — a state of sin, degradation and 
condemnation. 

M. — I will now read the passage as 
just explained : 

" Marvel not at this, for the hour is 
coming in which they that are in a 
state of sin, degradation and con- 



TALK WITH A UNIVERSALIST. 109 

demnation^ shall hear his voice and 
come forth ; they that have done good 
in this state of sin^ to the resurrection 
of life^ and they that have done evil 
unto the resurrection of damnation y^ 
These sinners^ who^ according to Mr. 
D^s teaching, are now enduring the 
hottest hell there is for man, shall 
come forth from this condition to 
this condition — from damnation to 
damnation — a double damnation from 
which he shows us no way of escape. 
I also desire light on Luke xii.-4, 5. 
^^ And I say unto you, my friends, be 
not afraid of them that kill the body, 
and after that have no more that they 
can do. But I will forewarn you 
whom ye shall fear ; fear him, which 
after he hath killed hath power to 
cast into hell ; yea, I say unto you, 
fear him.'' 



110 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

D, — What is the meanmg of the 
term hell ? 

J/. — That is for you to explain. We 
are young and want light. 

D. — I suppose you know the Avord 
hell means the grave or place of the 
dead. 

M. — Do you think it means the 
grave in the passage just quoted ? 

D, — I presume it does. 

M, — I will so read it: '^ And I say 
unto you^ my friends^ be not afraid of 
them that kill the body^ and after 
that have no more that they can do; 
but I will forewarn you whom ye 
shall fear; fear him which after he 
hath killed hath power to cast into 
the grave^ yea^ I say unto you fear the 
sexton !^^ Besides this gross inconsis- 
tency^ Mr. D^s interpretation makes 
Christ utter a falsehood ; for who 



TALK WITH A UNIVERSALIST. Ill 

does not know that the murderers of 
the saints had power to bury them? 

D. — Possibly the term hell in this 
passage refers to the place of de- 
parted spirits, 

M. — Do you think there is any 
place for departed spirits except 
heaven^ or a state of happiness ? 

^.— No. 

M. — Then let us see how the pas- 
sage will read Avith the second expla- 
nation : " And I say unto you my 
friends be not afraid of them that kill 
the body and after that have no more 
that they can do^ but rather fear him 
who^ after he hath killed^ hath power 
to cast you into heaven V^ 

The debate here ended, and the re- 
vival went on. 



112 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



A CHAIR THROWN AT THE MINISTER. 



REVIVAL IN BERLIN. 

After visiting a hotel in Providence^ 
Pa.^ and praying with the family^ he 
met two men in earnest conversation 
near the front door, one of whom 
attached an oath to nearly every 
sentence. " Do you know/^ inter- 
rupted the minister^ '^ that God 
has said he will not hold him 
guiltless that taketh His name 
in vain ?^^ At this^ the swearer 
commenced blaspheming the name of 
Christ, calling the minister a fool for 
worshiping such a being, swearing 
that if his reprover did not mind his 
own business he would smash him 
with a chair^ which he drew up for 



REVIVAL IN BERLIN. 113 

the purpose. Finding his threats did 
not move the minister, he threw the 
chair^ but with less force than his atti- 
tude seemed to indicate. Faihng to 
hit his mark^ he walked up^ and^ with 
an oath^ kicked the chair against 
him. The landlord then stepped to 
the door, and assured the swearer 
that he would allow no more such 
conduct upon his premises. His 
curses were then turned upon the 
landlord, and the minister went on his 
way, rejoicing that he was counted 
worthy to suffer shame for Christ's 
sake. He has since been heard to 
say: " That was the happiest day of 
my life.'' It was reported that this 
infidel was afterward converted. 

At his first visit to BerUn, on Hones- 
dale station, two arose for prayer ; 
thus encouraging him to protract 
the meeting which resulted in a glori- 



114 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

ous revival. At the commencement 
there was strong opposition. A Mr. 
May^ whose wife was an active laborer 
in the meetings, swore she should quit 
her public exercises, or he would drag 
her out of the school house. He 
cursed the minister for holding such 
meetings^ declaring, with an oath^ he 
would go to hell before he would hear 
him preach. His wife was at her 
post, and his conviction deepened. 
After standing about the door for 
several evenings^ he came rushing into 
the congregation, and^ among other 
seekers^ besought God's people to pray 
for him. His soul was soon set free ; 
since which he has traveled five miles 
on foot to hear that same preacher, 
professing to be well-paid for the 
journey. 



METHODIST BAPTISTS, 115 



A METHODIST CHURCH OF BAPTIST 
CONVERTS. 



About three miles from the BerHn 
revival^ a good work soon commenced 
among the Baptists. This young 
preacher was invited by a member of 
the churchy to attend the meeting. 
To avoid the appearance of proselyt- 
ing^ he dechned. After the pro- 
tracted effort closed^ and an unsuc- 
cessful effort had been made to secure 
the converts to the Baptist church, a 
committee was sent to again invite 
him to visit them and form a class. 
On being assured that they " could 
be nothing but Methodists ^' Avhether 
he came or not, he consented to go. 
His text for the occasion was: "I 



116 STRUCK hY LIGHTNING. 

ask therefore for what intent ye have 
sent for me ?^^ 

" I did not/' said lie^ " come as 
soon as I was sent for^ as did Peter 
to the house of Cornelius^ having rea- 
sons for delay Avhich he had not. But 
being now here present before God^ I 
ask for Avhat intent you have sent for 
me ? If it is for the purpose of making 
Methodists out of Baptists, you have 
sent for the wrong man. I never did a 
job of the kind. But if it is that you 
may hear words by which you may 
be saved ; I have them on hand.^' 
He then gave them a salvation ser- 
mon^ at the close of which those 
whom God had made Methodists, 
were invited to unite with the M. E. 
Church. Fifteen were organized into 
a class, with which more soon united. 
A meeting house was soon erected^ in 



METHODIST BAPTISTS. 117 

which there has been M. E. preaching 
ever since. 

One reason for this unusual turn 
of things was^ doubtless^ the fact that 
this revival fire had been kindled by 
the Berlin Methodist meeting. 



118 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, 



A NOISY STAGE-PASSENGER QUIETED. 



Closing his labors on Honesdale Sta- 
tion^ being advised by physicians to 
spend some time on the sea-shore for 
his healthy he resolved to try the 
experiment on Long Island. Upon 
enterino' the stao;e coach, he fomid a 
man warmly engaged in the discussion 
of politics. 

The coach was well filled^ and this 
man led the conversation for miles. 
When his audience seemed tired of 
his political harangue, he dropped it 
and made an attack ui3on ortho- 
dox religion. He said : " It seems 
strange that people should think that 
a just God would pardon violators of 
his law. He believed everv offender 



A NOISY STAGE-PASSENGER. 119 

must suffer all deserved punishment 
in this world.''' This talk aroused the 
young minister^ when the following 
conversation ensued : 

Minister. — Do you really think 
there is no pardon for penitent sin- 
ners ? 

Passenger. — Yes. 

M.—Do you believe the Bible ? 

_P. — Certainly. 

i/.— But the Bible says : '' Whoso- 
ever believeth in him shall receive 
remission of sins ; '' and that " God will 
abundantly pardon.'^ 

P. — God may pardon the sinner, 
but not the punishment. 

M. — But you just said God would 
nor pardon the sinner. 

P. — I meant the punishment. 

M. — Please tell me how a imnisli' 
ment^ abstract from the punished, can 
be either pardoned or ])unished? 



120 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

P. — God may pardon sinners, but 
always inflicts deserved punisliment. 

M. — Strange pardon. Think of one 
under sentence of death, who obtains 
a pardon from the Governor, and as 
he begins to rejoice is assured that 
the punishment is not pardoned, and 
he must hang until he is dead ! 
Would my friend like to be pardoned 
after that fashion ? I supposed he 
believed in universal salvation, but 
this would be universal damnation. 
• P, — The Bible is full of mystery. 

M. — Perhaps, after all, you doubt 
the Bible ? 

P. — I am sure the so-called ortho- 
dox view of it cannot be correct, 
which makes God damn a part of 
himself. The soul is a part of God 
and must go to God who gave it. 

M, — Then God, being cut up into 
as many parts as there are human 



A NOISY STAGE-PASSENGER. 121 

beings^ must be much smaller now 
than he will be when all these parts 
return ! I had always supposed God 
was changeless and infinitely happy. 

P. — I have not said God was un- 
happy^ nor do I believe it. 

M. — Then your doctrine must be 
false^ for who does not know that the 
whole family of man suffer in mind 
and body? If every one is a part of 
God^ then just so many parts of God 
suffer^ and he must be the greatest 
sufferer in the universe. 

Here our noisy passenger became 
quiet^ and others led the conversation. 



122 STRUCK BY LIGIITXIXG. 



PREACHING ON THE DECK OF A 
STEAMBOAT. 



Enroute from X. Y. to Patchogue^ 
his heart was so moved with compas- 
sion for the crowd of careless passen- 
gers on board the steamer, that he 
apphed to the Captain for the privi- 
lege of preaching to them. The Cap- 
tain doubted the expediency of the 
movement. Feeling that his duty was 
done, the preacher retired to the 
cabin. Soon a man ran down the 
cabin stairs, crying out : " The Cap- 
tain says you can preach. ^^ " What 
has changed his mind ? '^ asked the 
preacher. " We are stuck on the 
sand bar/' responded the other, " and 
must wait an hour for the tide to 



PREACHING ON A STEAMBOAT. 123 

come in ; so I suppose he does not 
know what else to do/^ Preaching 
was announced to commence on 
deck in just three minutes. The com- 
pany hstened with marked attention 
to a plain^ pointed sermon^ at the 
close of which several expressed great 
satisfaction with the novel movement^ 
and some professed to be spiritually 
profited. 



124 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



A PLEASURE TRIP. 



TWO OVERBOARD. 

While at Patchogue^ improying all 
suitable occasions for short trips on 
the bay for the improvement of his 
healthy a friend informed him that a 
newly-painted sloop would make a fif- 
teen mile pleasure trip the next morn- 
ing, and invited him to go. Being as- 
ured that all was right, he accepted 
the offer. He, however, soon found 
that his friend's sense of propriety 
differed widely from his own. The day 
was fine, and two violins were soon 
heard on deck, and a dance com- 
menced. Being too far from shore to 
make his escape, he resolved to make 



^1 



A PLEASURE TRIP. 125 

the best of it. Seating himself as far 
from the dance as possible^ he com- 
menced a review of his conference 
studies. Several expressed to him a 
hope that he would enjoy the ride. He 
thanked them and said^ " If agreeable 
to the company, I would like to 
preach to them.^^ " 1^11 see about it/^ 
said the leading spirit. After a brief 
absence, he returned, saying, " They 
are all willing ; but would like the ser- 
mon on our return. ^^ 

On reaching their destination, the 
water being shallow, they cast anchor 
some rods from shore, landing the 
company by small boats. Two young 
ladies in high glee, jumping into a 
boat nearly capsized it, throwing them 
both overboard. The scene was now 
changed from the wildest glee, to loud 
cries to God for mercy. The man in 
charge of the small boat was fright- 



126 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

ened^ and for a few moments^ it really 
seemed that one of the young ladies 
must be drowned. He, however^ soon 
succeeded in so lifting one from the 
water as to fix her grasp firmly to one 
side of the boat^ and then hastened to 
save the other^ who by this time had 
been carried some distance from i*^ by 
the rapidly retiring tide. After consid- 
erable efi*ort to reach the drifting one^ 
he at length extended to her one of 
the boat oars^ which she grasped, and 
was helped on board. The other was 
soon relieved from her unpleasant 
position, though the boat was again 
nearly capsized by the hurried efi^ort 
to lift her from the water. Some of 
those yet on the deck of the sloop 
wept, some prayed, and others swore 
at the awkwardness of the man who 
was trying to save the drowning ones. 
The company was considerably sober- 



A PLEASURE TRIP. 127 

ed down^ while the preacher had gath- 
ered some new material for his sermon. 
About sunset^ the company were on 
board for their return. The entire 
company were soon rallied^ and the 
preacher gave them a brief discourse 
upon the rapid flight of time and the 
importance of its improvement. All 
seemed like a churchy until the minis- 
ter quoted the following lines : 

" What is time? I asked an aged man, a man of cares. 
Wrinkled and curved, and white with hoary hairs. 
Time is the w^arp of life, he said. Oh, tell 
The young, the gay, the fair, to weave it well. " 

At this^ a man — who was a little 
intoxicated — cried out, " Tim^ is longi- 
tude f^ Failing to arrest attention, he 
cried aloud : ^' Preacher, I say time 
is longitude, isn't it, sir?^^ This so 
displeased the captain and others, that 
they assured the disturber that he 
must be quiet or go overboard. The 



128 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

sermon was completed without further 
interruption. The preacher then 
retired to the cabin^ where he was 
visited by several^ with whom he con- 
versed freely^ some of whom promised 
reformation. Among them came the 
" Longitude ^^ man^ who was now so 
sobered down as to ask pardon for his 
ungentlemanly conduct^ and promised 
to lead a new life. When within six 
miles of home^ a dead calm came on, 
so that the vessel could not move. 
Seeing no hope of reaching home 
that night, they very kindly manned 
a small boat and took the minister 
home, a distance of six miles. The 
sloop came in after sunrise. They 
were met at the dock by anxious 
friends, who wished to know if there 
had not been something wrong in their 
night raid? They were assured that 
^^all was right; that so far from any 



REVIVAL BY TORCH-LIGHT. 129 

rough conduct^ they had both praying 
and preaching on hoard T^ 



REVIVAL BY TORCHLIGHT. 



Soon after his return from Long 
Island he was taken violently ill; and 
waS; by many, given up to die. But 
God had more work for him. As soon 
as able to stand up in the pulpit^ he 
was at his post. With a hard cough 
and night-sweats, which his physician 
thought would put him in the grave 
he accepted a call to aid Rev. J. B. 
Benham in a revival, where he 
preached nearly every evening for 
three weeks, during which many were 
saved. His health gradually improved 



130 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

SO that he was soon at work on his 
own charge at Hanover^ Pa. 

When about closing a series of 
successful meetings at Ruggies' school- 
house, he received a call to labor in 
a wilderness where the Gospel had 
never been preached. A Brother Lee 
had moved into the neighborhood to 
eno;ao;e in lumberino\ He and his 
wife enjoyed salvation, and though 
not burdened with talent or dignity, 
they soon became wonderfully bur- 
dened for souls, and appointed a 
prayer meeting at their own house. 
The thing was new, and to their 
astonishment, the entire community 
turned out. There were but two to 
do the praying, which imposed a 
burden upon Brother and Sister Lee 
that they had hardly anticipated. 
Brother Lee read a Scripture lesson, 
and a hymn was sung, after which 



REVIVAL BY TORCH-LIGHT. 131 

— full of anxiety for present results^ 
and hoping to draw some at once from 
the muddy pool of sin^ who seemed 
just then to be enclosed in the Gospel 
net — Brother Lee said^ ^^we will pray 
again^ while all who desire salvation 
will pray for themselves/^ Several 
bowed before God^ and cried aloud 
for mercy. Another meeting was 
appointed^ and the minister sent for, 
who preached to them every evening 
for several weeks, until almost the 
entire community was converted. 
'' Pitch-pine ^^ was their whole depend- 
ence for light, which, burning in a 
fire-place, kept the room well lighted. 
Not a lamp or candle was used. The 
nights being dark, each family came 
supplied with a pine-torch, with which 
they illuminated the woods on their 
return, a display well worth observ- 
ing, especially when the forest was 



132 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

made vocal with the triumphant 
songs of new-born pilgrims. One 
woman came about five miles on 
foot — torch in hand — to the meetings. 
Though in feeble healthy the preach- 
er's fare was not always the most deli- 
cate. Often^ after the close of even- 
ing service^ he traveled several miles 
on horseback through foot-paths^ and 
often with no path^ until the skirts of 
his overcoat became thoroughly be- 
smeared with pitch from the pine 
torch which he carried. Not unfre- 
quently his bed in the morning was 
covered with snow^ which had blown 
through the cracks of his well-venti- 
lated room. 

There were several revivals on this 
circuity of which our limits will not 
allow particular notice. 



A FIDDLER SAVED. 133 



A FIDDLER SAVED. 



At one appointment a fiddler by the 
name of Bennett was awakened^ and 
finding his fiddle in the way of his 
salvation^ he committed it to the 
flames and shouted over the ashes of 
the idol. This moved the neighbor- 
hood^ and many more were soon 
saved. One interesting young lady of 
a Lutheran family was converted ; at 
which her people were so enraged as 
to turn her from home. She^ how- 
ever^ clung to Christy who gave her a 
good home among God^s people until 
her parents were glad to welcome her 
back. 

In his pastoral visits one man or- 
dered him out of his house. " I go at 



134 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

your bidding/' said the minister ; 
" and^ in obedience to Christy shake 
off the dust of my feet as a testimony 
against yon/' The conduct of this 
man disgusted the people generally^ 
who turned out more than ever to 
hear the Gospel preached^ and invited 
the minister to their homes. 



A SLANDERER HUMBLED. 135 



A SLANDERER HUMBLED. 



The strongest opposition to Method- 
ism on this H. circuity arose from 
members of the Lutheran church. A 
young man of some prominence^ be- 
longing to said churchy put in circula- 
tion a slanderous report about the 
minister. He resolved^ after prayerful 
consultation with older ministers^ to 
call the young man to an account; 
believing that the good of the church, 
at which the thrust was evidently 
made^ demanded such procedure. 
On learning what was coming, the 
slanderer earnestly besought him to 
pause in his intended prosecution, 
declaring that he knew the story Avas 
false, and that he was very sorry for 



136 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

what he had done, and would make all 
possible amends. 

His unqualified confession of false- 
hood was committed to paper, signed 
by the slanderer, and read in each 
congregation on the circuit, w^hich put 
a wonderful quietus upon the oppos- 
ing element from the above-named 
order. 



BAR-ROOM DISCUSSION. 137 



BAR-ROOM DISCUSSION. 



Stopping at a hotel on his way 
from a visit in Conn., he found a 
warm discussion going on in the bar- 
room between a Universahst and an 
Episcopahan upon the subject of 
future punishment. He soon discov- 
ered that the bulk of talent in the 
debate was in favor of Universalism. 

" Do you not^ as a church/' asked 
the Universahst^ " pray for the salva- 
tion of all men?'' ^^ Certainlv/' re- 
plied the other. " Do not some of 
you pray with faith ? " continued the 
Universahst. " I presume so/' was 
the answer. " Does not God promise 
to answer the prayer of faith ? " con- 
tinued the Universahst. " I presume 



138 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

so/^ was the reply. " Then does it 
not follow that all men must be saved ?" 
inquired the other. 

Perceiving that this shrewd sophism 
was likely to close the discussion^ the 
young stranger asked leave to speak. 

After a little jubilee upon the sup- 
posed victory over old orthodoxy, 
he said : " I am inclined to think that 
truth has not had fair play. Our 
Universalist friend seems to think 
that because his opponent admits that 
Christians pray with faith for the 
salvation of all men^ therefore all men 
will be eternally saved. In the first 
place^ I think he did not admit that 
Christians are bound to pray for the 
unconditional eternal salvation of all 
men ; I could not be guilty of making 
such a prayer.'^ 

" But/^ interrupted the Universalist, 
" the Bible commands that ' Braver 



BAR-ROOM DISCUSSION. 139 

and supplication be made for all 



men/ '' 



Minister. — The passage quoted does 
not say a Avord about praying for the 
eternal salvation of all^ but the Bible 
does plainly declare that certain char- 
acters ^^ shall not inherit the kingdom 
of God/^ and points us to a class of 
sinners for whom Christians are not 
required to pray. 

Z7. — I know of no such class. 

M. — (Turning to 1st John^ v. iG^ he 
read^) '' There is a sin unto death. I 
do not say that he shall pray for it.^^ 
Please reconcile that Scripture with 
your theory. 

U. — I do not know what that pas- 
sage means^ but am surprised to hear 
you say you do not pray for the salva- 
tion of all. 

M, — 1 did not say so. 1 said I 



140 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

never pray for the unconditional eter- 
nal salvation of all. 

Z7. — In what sense do you ask God 
to save all men ? 

M, — From immediate^ deserved ruin. 
It is a great salvation to a sinner to 
be kept out of hell an hour. It is 
doubtless in answer to the prayers of 
pious friends^ tliat many here are in 
reach of mercy to-night. Besides^ 
you have been saved from so rapid a 
rush hellward as you would have' 
made but for the restraints thrown 
round you in answer to prayer. And 
some of you are yet saved from fully 
'^believing a lie^ that you might be 
damned.' ' All are saved from sinkino; 
into eternal despair without the offer 
of a life-boat. Thus is '' God the 
Saviour of all men/^ but is a '^special 
Saviour '^ only " to them that believe. ^^ 
How long God will so save^ as to keep 



BAR-ROOM DISCUSSION. 141 

you in reach of heaven^ I know not. 
If the devil can persuade you to fully 
believe the doctrine of Universalism^ 
the time will doubtless soon come^ 
when you will commit the '^ sin unto 
death^ for which God^s people are not 
to pray.'^ Fearful state ! 

Z7. — I presume you are a minister. 

M. — I preach sometimes. 

TI. — Do you think it is right^ in 
preaching funeral sermons^ to afflict 
surviving friends by sending their rela- 
tives to hell ? 

M. — I never knew such a case^ nor 
do I believe it in the power of any 
minister to send people to hell^ or 
preach them out when they get there. 
But why not dispose of one thing at 
a time. What about that " sin unto 
death ?" The man confessed that he 
could not explain it^ and the debate 
ended ; and the preacher went out to 



142 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

the barn to look after his team. One 
of the company soon followed him^ 
and said earnestly: ^^See here^ 
stranger, I hope you are not going 
away. That fellow has commenced 
his noise again about Universalism, 
please go back hito the bar-room.'' 
He went back^ and all was silent. 
Remainino' over the Sabbath, he 
preached to a large congregation in 
the Court House, where a number of 
his bar-room audience were assembled. 



SAVED BY EXPULSION, 143 



SATED BY EXPULSION FROM THE 
CHURCH. 



This preacher was considered quite 
strict in the enforcement of disciphne. 
When on Canaan station^ after preach- 
ing one Sabbath against the sin of 
Sabbath breakings a wealthy mem- 
ber of the church (in the class meet- 
ing that followed,) warmly attacked 
the sermon. "^ I have/^ said he, ^' got 
in my hay and boiled sap on Sunday, 
and consider it as proper as to milk 
my cows/^ The minister explained 
the difference. Still the brother 
declared that he should continue the 
practice. '' Then/^ said the preacher, 
'' I shall see that you are brought to 
trial.^^ This conversation occurred a 



144 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

little before haying time. As usual, 
this brother drew in several loads of 
hay on the Sabbath. The minister 
labored with him, and finding he still 
remained obstinate, took a brother 
with him and rei3eated the effort, 
but to no purpose. The offender was 
then arraigned and expelled from the 
church. He had been treated so 
tenderly during the whole process, 
that his own wife, as well as his own 
conscience took sides with the admin- 
istration. He was so alarmed on 
finding himself out of the church that 
on reaching home he commenced 
family prayer, which for months had 
been neglected. He soon visited the 
minister and requested re-admission 
to the church. After a satisfactory 
confession to his class he was cheer- 
fully re-admitted. 

When this brother ,was excluded, 



SAVED BY EXPULSION. 145 

one of his sympathizers said : '^ I 
guess that minister will learn that his 
action in this case will lessen his bread 
and butter/^ 

But the excluded brother doubled 
both his religious energy and his sub- 
scription for the minister's support^ 
that same year. 



146 SURUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



DANCING WITH THE DEYIL. 



A YOUNG man by the name of Miller^ 
who trifled with everything religious, 
danced in the street, before the 
preacher and others, on the way from 
church, and sang mirthful songs. 
About eleven oVlock that night his 
father came to the parsonage and call- 
ing the preacher said : " My wicked 
son is in trouble, and wishes to see 
you as soon as possible/' Hastening 
to the spot, they found the young 
man sitting by the fire, with despair 
depicted upon his countenance. 
" What is the matter T^ inquired the 
minister. " You know,'' answered 
the young man, " how wickedly I 
acted on my way from church ; and 



DANCING WITH THE DEVIL. 147 

when I came home and retired to rest, 
the devil came to my bedside^ and^ 
reaching out his hand^ said : "Dance 
with me P' He insisted that it was 
real^ and was evidently greatly fright- 
ened. Prayer was made for him^ and^ 
though he was not then converted^ 
he ever after carried a sad counte- 
nance^ never showing the least appear- 
ance of levity. 

Let triflers beware lest they receive 
a similar invitation from the pit. 



148 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



ANSWERING A FOOL ACCORDING TO 
HIS FOLLY. 



Becoming suddenly ill on his way to 
a distant appointment^ a doctor was 
called. The following conversation in 
substance took place during his brief 
visit : 

Minister. — I hope^ Dr., while look- 
ing after the physical wants of your 
patients you pay some attention to 
spiritual matters? 

Doctor. — I have no knowledge of 
such matters ; it is enough for me to 
look after what I can see. I let the 
more visionary attend to the invisible. 

M. — But God himself is invisible ; 
you surely do not think the w^orship 
of God a mere visionary matter ? 



ANSWERING A FOOL. 149 

Dr. — I have no knowledge of God^ 
and don^t believe any man knows any 
more about him than I do. 

M. — Do you believe in no power, 
authority or intelligence above man ? 

D7\ — I see nothing superior to man. 
and recognize no power or authority 
above what I see or know to exist. 

M, — Are you really settled in these 
views ? 

Dr. — Perfectly. 

M. — Will you allow me to assume 
your position and talk to you accord- 
ingly? 

Dr. — Certainlv. 

M. — Well, then, I call you a regu- 
lar donkey. 

Dr. — (Evidently excited.) You can 
call me what you please, but give a 
reason for such talk. 

J/!— Being a man^ according to 
your teaching, there is no authority 



150 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

superior to my own^ and I call you a 
donkey, and must hold to my position 
as just and proper until you produce 
superior authority to set it aside. 

The Dr. was evidently quite dissat- 
isfied Avith his new name, though 
unable, according to his own theory, 
to dispute the authority by which it 
was given. 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 151 



RAPS FOR '' SPIRIT RAPPINGS/ 



About the time this preacher began 
his intinerant work the spirit rappings 
commenced near Rochester^ N. Y.^ in 
an obscure family by the name of Fox^ 
the girls acting as mediums. From 
these female foxes arose the system 
of modern necromancy^ under the 
sanctimonious name of ^'Spiritualism/^ 

'^ There must be something in it/^ 
was often repeated in the ears of the 
minister^ to which he replied : ''If 
there is anything in it^ the Devil is 
in it/^ 

During his pastoral charge of Can- 
dor Station^ years after this lire from 
the pit broke out near Rochester, a 
medium visited the place and com- 



152 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

menced operations at a whisky-tavern, 
and soon produced great excitement 
in the community. 

To soKcitations to visit the hotel 
and hear from departed friends, the 
preacher repKed : " The friends I care 
to hear from were not in the habit of 
visiting grog-shops before death, and 
if they have since become thus de- 
praved, I do not care to meet them.^^ 

As the excitement increased, he 
was assured by a steward of the 
church, in whom he had great confi- 
dence, that there was something very 
unaccountable about it, which he had 
better witness for himself before pro- 
nouncing it a " humbug ; ^^ adding 
with emphasis : " I am half inclined 
to believe in it myself/^ " Remove it 
to a suitable place, ^^ said the preacher, 
" and secure me a fair chance to 
investigate the thing, and I may take 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 153 

your advice/^ Accordingly^ a com- 
mittee of two met him the next 
morning (the aforesaid steward being 
one of them) with strong assurances 
that he should have a fair chance for 
investigating the concern that after- 
noon at a private house. The room 
was well filled with people. In the 
centre stood a large table^ by which 
sat a girl of about twenty^ said to be 
the medium. 

The minister seated himself near 
the table wdth paper and pencil in 
hand^ prepared to record any com- 
munications from whatever source 
they might come. Spirits were re- 
quested to rap on the table if present. 
All was silent for more than half an 
hour. The stern attitude of the 
preacher had evidently so disturbed 
the medium^s nerves, that it was diffi- 
cult to produce the usual raps. To 



154 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

avoid a silent sitting he put up his 
writing apparatus and commenced 
playing with a little child^ after which, 
raps were soon heard. 

The preacher requested the medium 
to ask questions that he w^ould sug- 
gest. She said he must ask his own 
questions, Avhich he reluctantly did, as 
he admitted the presence of no disem- 
bodied spirits. After proposing a 
number of mental questions, which, 
it was said, the spirits could answ^er, 
and receiving no response, he pro- 
posed them audibly, but still re- 
ceived no reply. He then held up 
a sealed letter, and, laying it on the 
table, said : " If there are disembodied 
spirits here, they can convince us of 
their presence by revealing to this 
company the contents of that letter. 
When the contents are given, any 
one may open it and see if correctly 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 155 

done/^ Thej waited^ but no answer 
came. The medium said: '^ The 
spirits will not always notice such test 
questions/^ " I now ask the spirit ^^ 
(said the preacher)^ ^^ or whatever it 
was that rapped on that table^ to 
tell us why it refuses to answer my 
questions T^ Raps were then heard, 
" The spirit calls for the alphabet/'' 
said the medium. Then one repeated 
the alphabet^ and another put down 
the letters at which the spirit rapped. 
The recital ran thus : " a-b-c-d-e-f-g- 
h4 rap.^^ The letter i^ was then put 
down. Again the alphabet was 
repeated in the same way until s 
was pronounced and another rap fol- 
lowed. The same process was con- 
tinued until the medium signified that 
the communication was on paper. It 
stood thus : " i-s-b-u-r-r-r-i-g-h-t.^^ No 
one being able to tell what it signified, 



156 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

a Mr. H — (who seemed always on 
hand to help the spirits) divided it 
thus: ^^s Burr right ?^^ While all 
wondered what it meant^ another 
call was made for the alphabet^ and 
the same tedious process gave us 
'' 1-e-c-t-u-r-e/^ Not yet understand- 
ing it^ the third call was made, and 
" c-o-n-f-e-r-e-n-c-e '^ was added. We 
then had : '' i-s-b-u-r-r-r-i-g-h-t-1-e-c-t- 
u-r-e-c-o-n-f-e-r-e-n-c-e/^ which being 
interpreted read: ^^ Is Burr right? 
lecture conference. ^^ Mr. H — (the 
spirit\s helper) then said : '' Perhaps 
the spirit means to say that one of 
this company heard Burr lecture at 
the conference^ if so^ please rap twice 
on the table. Two raps came. '' Who 
heard Mr. Burr lecture ?'^ continued 
Mr. H. The preacher's name was 
then rapped out. '^ Did you attend 
Burr's lecture r asked Mr. H. '' I 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 157 

did/^ said the preacher^ " and I know 
how a knowledge of the fact came 
to this circle ; and as the spirit seems 
to have been present at those lectures 
and is inclined to talk about them^ 
will it please rap the number of lect- 
ures delivered on that occasion ?^^ 
Two raps were indistinctly heard. " If 
the spirit meant to say only two^ 
please repeat the raps/' said the 
preacher. No repetition. He then 
asked the spirit to tell how many 
ministers attended those lectures^ in 
what building they were delivered, 
etc., to which no answers could be 
obtained. Many more questions were 
proposed to which either no reply 
could be obtained, or where at- 
tempts w^ere made to answer, the 
responses were either too indefinite to 
be understood, or entirely incorrect. 
Discovering that the spirits preferred 



158 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

to talk of things in the unseen uorld 
he asked in a subdued tone : " Have 
I a mother in the spirit world ? If so, 
let the spirit rap twice on the table ?'^ 
Two raps were distinctly heard. The 
preacher's mother lived many years 
after that. Manv other false state- 
ments were drawn out in the same 
manner. 

The minister finallv said : '' The so- 
called spirits have told a number of 
lies, which I am prepared to prove. '^ 
^^The spirits have never lied since 
they have been with me/^ interrupted 
the medium. '* I presume not/'' said 
the preacher, '' for there have been 
no disembodied spirits with you. 
You know, as do all attentive ob- 
servers, that there has not been a sin- 
gle rap on that table except when 
your hand or foot touched it. and I 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 159 

defy you to sit a foot from it and 
secure a rap of the kind/^ 

The medium at once left the table, 
and after talking with her mother, 
accused the minister of ungentlemanly 
conduct, saying : " We did not come 
here to be imposed upon/^ ^^The 
preacher replied : " I came here to 
expose imposition, and I appeal to 
the committee, who urged my attend- 
ance against •my wishes, to say if my 
examination has not been properly 
conducted/^ 

These gentlemen signified their ap- 
proval of the preacher's action, which 
cooled off the medium, who remarked 
that — ^' The minister, though hard to 
convince, would no doubt yet become 
a strong advocate of the cause/^ To 
which he replied : " It might help 
the preacher's faith to have those 
httle raps produced without the 



160 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

medium's help/' Not a rap could be 
obtained. The preacher continued : 
" If I am in the way of the spirits, 
and they will say so, I will retire.'' 
No reply. He added, " If any one 
thinks the spirits will operate better 
in my absence, I will leave." Brother 
W. (the said steward) whispered : 
" Don't go an inch ; it is aU humbug ; 
see how mad they are." Another 
whispered, saying : ^^As some are anx- 
ious to converse with the spirits^ and 
the medium declares she will not act 
in your presence, perhaps you had 
better go." He then left, stating 
that he did so by request, as the 
medium refused to act in his presence. 
Brother W. and wife (who were 
now prepared to report) stayed to see 
the end. The medium resumed her 
seat and the rapping went on freely. 
While seated at the tea-table in the 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 161 

evenings one end of the table was sud- 
denly moved. " What does the spirit 
want ? ^^ was the inquiry. The usual 
raps answered : " It wishes to have a 
blessing asked.'' A blessing was 
craved^ and the eating resumed. Soon 
the other end of the table moved, 
which was attributed to a spirit (the 
medium evidently thought her mother 
did it)^ when Mrs. W. said^ " I moved 
the table this time myself. ^^ ^^Now/^ 
said her husband^ " let the spirit move 
that lamp on the table^ where w^e can 
all see it done^ and I will believe. '^ 
" The spirit has moved enough '^ said 
the medium's mother spiritedly ; " if 
you do not believe now^ you would 
not believe anything.'' Thus ended 
the spirit movements for the evening. 
But this Mrs. W.^ who was not 
easily outdone^ soon contrived to pro- 
duce raps which even astonished 



162 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

the medium, and led many to say 
that Mrs. W. had become a medium 
herself. After awakening consider- 
able surprise by these mysterious 
raps she showed how they were pro- 
duced. 

The medium soon left for her home 
in Binghamton, at which place this 
minister was soon after appointed as 
pastor. As far as known her Candor 
performance ended her career as a 
spirit rapper. Honesdale was this 
preacher^s next station (it being his 
second appointment to that place) 
which had become a rallying point 
for spirit circles. It was the spot 
where Rev. C. H. Harvey (then pastor 
of the M. E. Church) embraced spirit- 
ualism, and was expelled from the 
conference therefor. A leading mem- 
ber of his church, by the name of 
West, with a number more, had left 



RAPS FOR SPIRIT RAPPIXGS. 163 

the churchy and became wild in their 
advocacy of spirituahsm. 

Soon after this preacher com- 
menced his pastoral work (and while 
spirit circles were in full blast) a 
family by the name of Smithy residing 
a few miles distant^ claimed to have 
received a communication from the 
spirits to the effect that they would 
be henceforth exempt from sickness^ 
and would all live to witness Christ's 
second advent. The family were evi- 
dently much elated with their future 
prospects^ to which Smith referred 
with evident satisfaction at one of 
their meetings. Returning from said 
meetings he found one of his children 
very sick^ and, in a few hours it Avas 
a corpse. Another child Avas taken 
violently ill and died Avhile they Avere 
burying the first. Their last child Avas 
soon in its grave. The father was then 



164 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

taken ill and soon died in the greatest 
mental agony. His wife was next 
seized^ and came near death's door, 
but confessed her error and recovered. 
The spiritualists of the place were so 
shocked as to renounce the system, 
and (for a long time at least) feared 
to have anything to do with it what- 
ever. The Honesdale circles were 
completely disbanded, and several of 
the deluded ones sought re-admission 
to the church they had left, saying : 
" We have been led by the devil long 
enough. ^^ Mr. West made his recant- 
ation through the Honesdale news- 
paper. 



DEBATE WITH A RESTORATIONIST. 165 



SHORT DEBATE WITH A RESTORA- 
TIONIST. 



When pastor of Honesdale Church, 
finding some of his members a httle 
moved by a " wind of doctrine '^ 
raised by a Unitarian minister named 
Hawk^ he stepped into one of their 
meetings to watch the effect upon his 
flock. Rev. Hawk preached that 
evening mainly on Christian union — 
which^ with him, meant union with 
everything that bore a rehgious name 
— and gave a practical illustration of 
his views by inviting a Universalist 
minister, whose name was Brown, to 
follow him with remarks. B's talk 
harmonized quite well witli the ser- 
mon, especially Avith the union part of 



166 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

it. He thought the prejudice among 
so-called orthodox churches ran en- 
tirely too hioh. He referred, as an 
illustration, to some public utterance 
of the Methodist minister, and turning 
to him asked: '^ Did you not say in 
your sermon at Canaan that if Univer- 
salists were moral at all, it was to 
keep up the credit of their society ?^' 
^' I said such miff lit be the motive/' 
answered the preacher. '^ Did you 
not/" continued the speaker, ^^ tell 
your congregation that the fear of 
endless punishment was the strongest 
motive that could be presented to the 
sinner^s mind^ to induce obedience to 
God ?^^ ^^ Please finish your speech/^ 
was the reply, ^^ and then if permitted, 
I will tell the people what I said.^^ 
Brown then proceeded to enlarge upon 
love, as the true motive to obedience, 
and insisted that men's fears should 



DEBATE WITH A RESTORATIONIST. 167 

not be appealed to^ as fear was a de- 
grading motive. He did not believe 
in exciting people by such references 
to the rod. 

At the close of his talk^ which was 
somewhat extended^ the minister^ 
upon whom his rude attack had been 
made^ arose and asked permission to 
speak ; which^ being granted^ he said : 
^^As an attack has been publicly made 
upon my sermon preached in Canaan^ 
about which this congregation know 
nothmg^ and are not likely to^ unless I 
tell them^ it seems my duty to briefly 
answer Rev. Mr. B. It is late in the 
evening, and should any desire to 
leave they can do so.^' No one left, 
and he proceeded : " I did not say, in 
the sermon referred to, that all, or 
even any, Universalists Avere moral 
for the sole purpose of keeping up 
their credit as a church ; but T did 



1C8 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

say, that people might do much, that 
in itself would be right, without pos- 
sessing real pietv. That motive de- 
termines the character of action. 
That one man might be kind to his 
neio'hbor in obedience to God, because 
he loved God and his neighbor : and 
another mio-ht do the same thino; to 
keep up his credit in community^ or 
to secure the good graces of those 
upon whom his benefactions were 
bestowed. Hence it was unsafe to 
conclude that Universalists must be 
right, as a denomination, because 
some of them were outwardly moral, 
as the same might be true of deists. 
^' Though I did not say that the 
fear of endless punishment was the 
strongest motive to obedience, I did 
say it was among the strongest, and 
I here repeat it. What stronger 
motive to stop sinning can be placed 



DEBATE WITH A RESTORATIONIST. 169 

before the mind than to know that 
persistence in rebeUion must put the 
rebel in an endless hell ? But if^ as 
Mr. B. tells us^ love alone is to be ap- 
pealed to^ then why does the Bible 
appeal so strongly and so constantly 
to men^s fears ? 

•^ Hear it — ' Ye generation of vipers^ 
how can ye escape the damnation of 
hell ? ^ ' Except ye repent ye shall 
all likewise perish/ ' Upon the wicked 
he will rain snares^ and fire and 
brimstone^ and an horrible tempest/ 
' There shall be wailing and gnashing 
of teeth ; ' to which a volume of like 
threatenings might be added. Surely 
God must know^ that if one-half of 
his threatenings are believed they 
must move men's fears tremendouslv, 
however ' degrading ^ the motive may 
seem to Mr. B. Of course love is the 
grand motive that moves the Chris- 



170 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

tian^ but the ' carnal mind ^ being 
^enmity to God/ must be met and 
moved until converted more or less 
by fear of sin^s results. When one 
has seen his danger and fled to Christ 
for pardon, and feels ' the love of God 
shed abroad in his heart by the Holy 
Ghost given unto him/ he obeys God 
because he loves him. 

^^If Mr. B.'s views are correct, we 
need a new Bible as well as a new 
code of civil laws, as both have severe 
penalties and appeal strongly to men's 
fears. I would suggest the nomination 
of Mr. B. to our coming Congress by 
those who favor his theory, as but 
few men can be found who could be 
induced to make laws without penal- 
ties.'' 

Here Mr. B. seizing the skirt of the 
speaker's coat gave it a jerk, saying, 
"Stop, stop, or I must reply to you.'' 



DEBATE WITH A RESTORATIONIST. 171 

The speaker replied : " If those hav- 
ing charge of this meeting say stop, I 
will do so, if not I shall go on, sir/' 

" Go on^ go on^^^ rang out from all 
parts of the house. 

On closing, Mr. B. arose and at- 
tempted to speak, when the congre- 
gation rushed for the door and he was 
compelled to desist. 

Mr. B., however, subsequently re- 
plied ; stating, among other things, 
that — "- If men's fears should be ap- 
pealed to as a means of reform, the 
same motive should be urged after 
conversion as before, as that which 
makes men good must be the best 
thing to keep them so.'' 

The argument was thus answered : 
'' Mr. B. admits that there may be a 
limited hell after death, for those who 
die in sin. That where the Gospel, 
with all its melting and loving appeals 



172 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

(even from tlie lips of Universalist 
preachers)^ fails to produce reforma- 
tion^ the last resort will be to put 
tliem into hell in another world. Mr. 
B. does not know how long it will 
be^ but is sure it will burn long 
enough and hot enough to refine and 
fit these rebels up for Heaven. Now^ 
as ' That which makes men good must 
be the best thing to keep them so^ 
(and God will use the best means) ^ 
this hell must be continued forever 
and ever^ as a means of keeping these 
hell-reformed rebels good ! An eter- 
nal hell then^ according to Mr. B.'s 
own showing, must be an absolute 
necessity. But even if such purga- 
tory could be finally dispensed with, 
its very existence, as a last resort to 
save rebels, completely annihilates 
Mr. B.^s loving theory of reform, and 
proves, not only that the fear of hell, 



OPEN REBUKE. 173 

but even hell itself, is necessary to 
bring some men to salvation/^ 



^^OPEN REBUKE/ 



Strange as it may seem, there 
came a time in this preacher's history 
when his ardent love for God and 
souls suffered some abatement. Still 
maintaining a blameless outward de- 
portment and earnest pulpit exercises^ 
attended with some success, his spirit- 
ual loss, for a while, escaped detec- 
tion. Having gradually imbibed the 
common sentiment that almost any 
one, with a good share of piety, 
could promote revivals, but that it 
required a superior mind to " sermon- 



174 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

ize/^ he became less zealous for souls, 
and more anxious about liis pulpit 
preparations. 

Thus do multitudes, like the Laodi- 
cean church, imagine they are ^^rich 
and increased in goods, and have 
need of nothing,^^ long after the sub- 
tle demon — pride — has severed the 
vital connection between them and 
Christ, in whose sight they are 
" wrefcched, and miserable, and poor, 
and blind and naked/^ 

Though not so far fallen as was the 
church referred to, he found, as light 
broke on him anew, that compared 
with his former attainments, he was 
really ^'poor, blind and naked. ^^ 

During his heart wanderings, the 
Spirit's light had often flashed atliAvart 
his path, producing doubts as to the 
soundness of his present experience ; 
but these were soon disposed of as 



OPEN REBUKE » 175 

mere temptations^ and he moved on as 
before, content with a round of re- 
ligions ceremonies without the fruit 
that once attended them. 

In the year 1853^ while pastor of 
the M. E. Church at Candor, N. Y., 
a train of Providences brought him 
to " himself/^ At a camp-meeting, in 
which he took part, many sinners upon 
his own charge were awakened, and 
he felt impressed to pursue the work 
by a series of meetings. One evening, 
on the way to a school-house appoint- 
ment in the heart of his society, he 
promised God if a soul was saved that 
evening, it should be regarded as a 
signal to protract the meeting. At 
the close of the sermon, a young girl 
of ordinary appearance, presented 
herself for prayer, and professed to 
find peace with God. Failing to 
discern the required sign in the move- 



176 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

ment of this unpretending girl (avIio^ 
however^ became a useful minister's 
wife) and having a strong preference 
for other work just then^ he con- 
cluded to wait and see what his next 
regular meeting might develop. 

He left home to conduct a church 
trial^ which the presiding elder had 
committed to his charge ; and^ on his 
return^ learned that a Wesleyan minis- 
ter was holding a protracted meeting 
in the school-house he had just left^ 
and was having a good revival. He 
now saw clearly that God had given 
him the first opportunity to gather souls 
among his own people^ from which 
nothing but his spiritual blindness 
could have excluded him. He said : 
" I am backslidden in heart, and richly 
deserve this chastisement.^' 

He attended the meetings, but 
found, while the members of his 



OPEN REBUKE. 177 

church were welcomed as laborers^ 
he was regarded rather as an mtrud- 
er, and only used just enough to 
avoid discourtous appearances. 

While looking oh, he had time for 
retrospection, and his life was care- 
fully reviewed. 

^^I feel/^ said he, ^^ some as I used 
to in childhood, when on showing 
unwillingness to do work assigned me, 
my father would command me to be 
seated, look on and see my brother 
do it.^^ 

Thus has my Heavenly Father 
seated me, to look on and see a 
brother of another denomination do 
work which I was too proud to per- 
form. What a mistake ! — which 
must rob my crown of many stars, if 
I am so fortunate as to Avear one. I 
have waited for God to humble me, 
and he has done it in a way I 



178 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

least expected. How much better for 
me to have " hmnblecl myself timely 
under His mighty hand. Though 
late^ I now do this^ pledging uncom- 
promising fidelity to all his claims. 
How clearly I now see that there is 
nothing unimportant in God's require- 
ments^ and that my duty and interest 
are inseparable. I promise thee^ 
Lord^ never again to undervalue a 
soul for whom thy blood was shed. I 
will henceforth run at thy biddings and 
thank thee for a chance to do any 
work in any part of thy vineyard. '^ 

As soon as fully humbled and fitted 
for his work^ the Lord put it into his 
hands. 



AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSING. 179 



AN " UNSPEAKABLE '' BLESSING. 



The following quotation from his 
pen shows his state of mind at the 
time referred to : 

^^My bliss is beyond description. 
Its depth^ lengthy breadth and height 
are immeasurable. 

^'Some of my late experience has 
been entirely new to me. At one time 
my mind was for days held to a glori- 
ous view of God^ from which I could 
no more turn away my gaze than I 
could move a continent. How clearly 
did the Divine finger appear in the 
management of everything great and 
small that concerned me. My entire 
being trembled under the glorious 
pressure of Divinity (for I know not 



180 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

what else to call it) which deprived 
me of both appetite and sleep. 

" I do not wonder that St. Paul saw 
unspeakable things in the ' Third 
Heavens/ for I found them short of 
that. It really seemed that should 
God hold me long to this view^ I must 
die of real bliss. My inmost soul 
breathed the sentiment : 

While Thee All Infinite I see, 

By faith before my ravished eye, 

My weakness bends beneath the weight, 

O'erpowered, I sink, I faint, I die. 

^^It never before occurred to me 
that the Lord could so easily bless 
one to death. No marvel that he hid 
Moses in the cleft of the rock when 
about to make all his goodness pass 
before him. I felt the need of sleep 
which it was impossible to obtain 
under this glorious sense of Divinity. 
I dared not ask for its removal^ lest it 



AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSING. 181 

be done to my spiritual injury; but did 
venture^ after retiring to rest one night, 
to ask God Avhat it meant^ and say to 
him^ if I can be just as good and use- 
ful^ hold thy hand just enough to 
allow me a night^s sleep? The Spirit 
answered (not audibly^ but clearly) 
' You have been too unbelieving. 
You must learn to live and work by 
faith^ allowing God to judge of the 
degree of feeling necessary. Have 
you now feeling enough ? Do you 
know there is a God^ who can 
crush you with a glimpse of His 
glory ? ^ 

" From my deepest heart I said it is 
enough. 

' " Will you/ continued the Spirit, 
' ever hereafter mind all God's re- 
quirements in every particular^ as you 
now do, if this pressure of glory is 
withdrawn?' I answered, ^By tliy 



182 SURUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

grace^ I will/ That moment the 
grand panorama of divine wonders 
was so Avithdrawn that I slept sweet- 
ly. In the morning my mind was 
strongly drawn towards the scene 
from which it had been turned for the 
nio'ht. I did not covet a return of the 
same resistless pressure^ but asked 
only for a touch of the same power^ 
which might continue as God saw 
would be profitable to me as a labor- 
er in His vineyard. The glory ap- 
peared as before^ only the view was 
now voluntary. From that period I 
have seemed to be in God^s hands^ as 
an engine in the hands of a skillful 
engineer^ who keeps it always in run- 
ning order^ but steams it to its ut- 
most capacity only as occasion de- 
mands. 

" Every duty is now discharged with- 
out the least hesitation^ regardless of 



AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSING. 183 

feeling. My faith says^ he who gave 
the command is present to supply the 
power for its execution. The attempt 
being immediately made (at times 
under depression and Hieaviness^ of 
spirits)^ the power that attends it is 
often wonderful. God always honors 
a faith that honors his order by im- 
mediate action. Obedient faith is 
thus strengthened at every step^ and 
' by works is faith made perfect.^ The 
faith of many is crippled and often 
killed out for want of exercise. ' For 
as the body without the spirit is 
dead^ so faith without works (which 
are its appropriate action or exercise) 
is dead also.^ 

"1 wonder at the condescension that 
led God to pick up this instrument 
and put it in order at such expense. 
He is evidently resolved to save man 
by man (as an instrument) at any 



184 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

cost. It is equally clear that he Avill 
not work with dull tools. If out of 
order^ he will insist on their being 
ground up^ and^ if. necessary^ melted 
and recast ; and where consent cannot 
be gained to such ordeal^ they will be 
thrown aside. How I rejoice that 
God only threw me aside for a few 
hours^ until my heart yielded to this 
fitting-up process. These are my hap- 
piest days. This is higli life in earnest. 

^^Amid these new revelations I find 
plenty of new texts^ new sermons and 
new illustrations. Indeed^ ^All things 
have become new.^ Amid the saddest 
scenes of life^ I find joy unspeakable 
in Christy and often praise him for 
trials under which I bend only to 
gather gems that might otherwise be 
overlooked. 

" On entering this new spiritual 
realm^ I hardly knew just how to be- 






AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSING. 185 

have. So many new and impressive 
thoughts and ideas crowded my mind^ 
that I scarcely knew how to store 
them. Everything about me seemed 
to blaze with divinity; so that I 
needed a pulpit constantly^ from 
which to pour forth upon others the 
burnmg^ breathing thoughts that 
moved my own soul. 

^^ Often did I spring from my bed 
and strike a light for the purpose of 
committing to paper new trains of 
thought, lest they should escape my 
recollection. But in vain was the 
attempt to make my pen keep pace 
with the grand panorama. ' The win- 
dows of Heaven were opened^ and a 
blessing poured out that there was 
not room to receive.^ 

^^Amid my efforts to gather this super- 
abundance of spiritual fruity the Spirit 
suggested^ that being now a citizen 



186 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

of this land of plenty^ I had only to 
retain my citizenship to find fresh and 
constant supplies^ withont so much 
pains to hoard them. 

" Surely a minister of Christy living 
in this ' land of wine and corn^ and oil ^ 
favored with God^s peculiar smile^ 
must always have something new 
and impressive for his congregations. 

^^Many seem to think all the glories 
of Christ^s kindgdom lie beyond the 
death stream. How mistaken ! 

" The New Jerusalem is a great city, 
extending its borders far over on this 
side Jordan. The real saint goes to 
heaven in an important sense^ before 
he dies. He does not reach the inte- 
rior, but enters the suburbs and be- 
comes a citizen. ' Ye are not come 
unto the mount that might be touched, 
and that burned Vvdth fire. ^ ^ ^ 
But ye ai^e come unto Mount Zion and 



AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSING. 187 

unto the city of the Hving God^ the 
heavenly Jerusalem^ and to an innu- 
merable company of angels^ to the 
general assembly and church of the 
firstborn which are written in heaven/ 
Heb. xii. 22 : Here I live^ and seem 
every day to be discovering new 
glories as my soul draws nearer the 
grand centre/^ Soon after reaching 
this glorious state^ he visited Salis- 
bury^ Conn.^ for the purpose of a little 
relaxation from his incessant toil. He 
found a protracted meeting in prog- 
ress. On entering the church it was 
insisted that he should preachy which 
he declined^ saying, ^^I am here to 
rest.^' The pastor exhorted brethren 
to pray, saying, you Avill doubtless 
soon hear from the visiting minister. 
Watching the movement of the meet- 
ing his heart soon became burdened 
for the work, discovering that as yet 



188 



STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 



but little had been done for want of 
spiritual power^ and he gave them a 
brief talk which seemed to take deep 
root in the hearts of the people. The 
pastor was much moved^ and subse- 
quently expressed astonishment at the 
correctness of the portrait drawn by 
the stranger of a work of which he 
could have had no previous knowl- 
edge. 

" I believe/^ said he to the congrega- 
tion^ ^^God sent this brother to aid us 
in this crisis^ and having done all in 
my power to promote the Avork the 
meeting will henceforth be managed 
by the man to whom you have just 
listened. ^^ 

The visiting minister expressed sur- 
prise at the announcement^ but soon 
found the work so much upon his 
heart that he dare not decline. Back- 
sliders in the church, anion £>; other 



AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSING. 189 

sinners^ were invited to the altar to 
seek pardon^ and the clearly justified 
as seekers of complete purity. Among 
them were a number of the most 
talented church ofiicials. These min- 
gled their tears and shouts of victory 
around the same altar. The pastor 
and his wife were among the seekers 
of purity^ and soon received a new 
baptism of the Spirit. Such was the 
Bible type of the work^ that a mother 
(Smith)^ who knew something of Meth- 
odism^ as it wcis^ praised God aloud 
in the public congregation ^^for one 
more Methodist meeting in Salisbury. ^^ 
His journal must express his feelings 
under this outpouring of the Spirit : 
" I never felt so small as now. I seem 
whittled clear down to nothing. God 
gives me the hearts of the people in a 
wonderful degree. All my utterances 
are in great simplicity, and yet they 



190 STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 

seem to have unusual weight. It 
surely must be Gocl in them that gives 
such efficiency. / do nothing but 
stand up as a willing instrument in his 
hands^ and wonder to see him accom- 
plish such a work by such an insignifi- 
cant tool. All success now humbles 
me. When I saw the talented pastor 
and wife at the altar for prayer, it 
seemed to me as if I must — if possi- 
ble — drop out of sight through some 
opening in the floor. To God be all 
the glory.^' 

When he left for home^ the pastor 
was so baptized as to be ready to take 
the helm, and the work continued 
until over a hundred converts were 
reported. 



CONCLUSION. 



Now, reader, adieu ; I here yield my pen, 

By Heaven's consent, to resume it again. 

Should death strike too soon, and this pen cease to move, 

Another may finish this *' labor of love." 

Thus the harp but just struck, may continue to sound, 

While the fingers that touched it are cold in the ground ; 

And the spirit has flown to the regions of light, 

Unruffled by changes, unshaded by night. 



[ADVERTISEMENT.] 



a 



TfflNcs Ml *i m: 



— BY — 

Rev. E. OWEN, 

IS NOW ON SALE BY BAKER & ARNOLD, SYCAMORE, DEKALB 

CO. , ILLS. ; ALSO BY THE AUTHOR AT CORTLAND, 

CORTLAND CO. , N. Y. IT IS NEATLY BOUND 

IN CLOTH, CONTAINS 320 PAGES, 

AND SELLS AT 40 CTS. PER 

COPY, POST-PAID. 



This little work is a Jewel— original in style, clear and simple in its 
composition, rich and striking in illustration, exceedingly happy in its 
adaptation to promote the edifying of the body of Christ ; and evidently 
indited under the clear light of the Holy Spirit. 
[Signed] 

WM. REDDY, D. D. 

FITCH REED, D. D. 

Rev. ISAAC FOSTER. 

Rev. WM. SEARLES. 

Rev. J. W. STEEL. 

More than 100 copies of this little volume have been sold in this 
community (Pine Plains, N. Y.) within a few days, and the demand con- 
tinues. Get it, reader ! Rev. W. G. BROWNING. 

It deserves to be circulated and read throughout all our borders. 

ELIAS BOWEN, D. D. 



It lias liad a larg-e sale9 and still it goes. 



\ 



C/ 






■PPPH 






s' 



s 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS tJ 

029 789 255 1 



>1 



7 



i in r ir ti mf t ij i mK 



J;^ 



